Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

Two major security alliances held summits in July. Each summit consisted of a bloc of major powers and nearby countries. Both alliances hold military exercises. Each summit meeting included guest and observer countries. The two summits could not have been more different in tone and in purpose. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) met in Astana, Kazakhstan, on July 3-4, to discuss mutual cooperation. A week later the North Atlantic Treaty Organization met in Washington, D.C., on July 9-11 to celebrate 75 years of militarism. At the meeting, NATO dared to demand Russia, China, Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) sever ties with each other.