Illustration: Xia Qing/GT

The tectonic plates of global power are shifting. For centuries, the international order was dictated by the West, first by European capitals and later by Washington. Today, that era is drawing to a close, and the epicenter of economic, political and strategic gravity is moving to the East. At the heart of this transformation stands the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a bloc that both symbolizes and facilitates the rise of Eurasia. 

What makes the SCO remarkable is its composition. Unlike homogenous Western-led alliances such as NATO or the G7, its strength lies in its ability to unite both competitors and partners under one roof. Far from being a weakness, this reflects profound strategic pragmatism. The SCO provides an indispensable platform for continuous dialogue, creating channels that help manage disputes and address differences without the interference of third-party mediation. This ensures that Eurasian solutions are crafted for Eurasian problems, serving regional interests first.

The SCO's scale is staggering. It spans nearly 60 percent of Eurasia's landmass and encompasses more than 40 percent of the world's population. Its member states - China, India, Russia, Pakistan and the key Central Asian countries - represent a unique concentration of future economic growth, vast energy reserves, historic and modern trade routes, and formidable military capabilities. And its reach is growing. Iran's accession and the interest of countries such as Turkey and key Gulf states, participating as observers or dialogue partners, underscore the SCO's magnetic pull. Increasingly, it has become the preferred hub for cross-regional diplomacy that functions outside traditional Western circuits.

Founded in 2001 with an initial focus on mutual intraregional efforts to curb terrorism, separatism and extremism in Central Asia, the SCO has swiftly evolved into a strategic counterweight. Its foundational principles of non-interference, respect for sovereignty and advocacy for a multipolar world stand in sharp contrast to the interventionist tendencies often associated with Western institutions. This vision resonates with a global audience weary of Western hegemony and unilateralism. In practice, the SCO translates these principles into action: joint counterterrorism exercises, coordinated intelligence sharing, energy partnerships and, most crucially, the financing and construction of connectivity projects that bind the continent together. Initiatives like the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative find a natural home within the SCO's framework, weaving a dense network of roads, railways, pipelines and digital corridors across Eurasia.

At its core, the SCO represents the reassertion of Eurasian agency. This is a story of political, economic and strategic decolonization. The SCO gives Eurasian countries the space to set their own security and development agendas, free from external prescriptions or conditionalities. For many in the Global South, the SCO and BRICS are not just alternatives; they are the future of global governance. They provide mechanisms to rebalance a system long tilted in favor of a few, ensuring that nations, regardless of size or historical alignment, have a voice in shaping the international norms of the new era.

The combined strengths of these rising powers - youthful populations, booming markets, control of critical natural resources and rapid technological adoption - are making them increasingly less dependent on the West. In a dramatic reversal of 20th-century dynamics, it is now often the West that seeks access to the Global South's markets, resources and strategic partnerships to meet global challenges.

This new reality demands a fundamental reassessment in Western capitals. The age of unipolar dominance is over. Clinging to outdated hierarchies and Cold War-era alliances will only accelerate the West's relative decline. Global stability now depends on adaptive engagement with emerging centers of power like the SCO, which requires moving beyond containment toward collaboration on shared challenges, from climate change to nuclear proliferation to economic volatility.

The SCO is more than a regional grouping. It is a living expression of multipolarity, convening Eurasia's great powers, managing its rivalries and articulating a collective vision beyond Western-led alliances. It reflects the undeniable geopolitical reality of our time: the long-term, irreversible rise of Eurasia as the defining actor in 21st-century world affairs. The train has left the station, and it is heading East.

The author is director of Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka (BRISL), a Sri Lanka-based organization that specializes in BRI cooperation. mayalk2000@gmail.com