Regional and Multilateral Organizations: African Union, SAARC, BIMSTEC, SCO, G7, Arab League, OPEC, OIC and NAM

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International Relations — Regional and Multilateral Organizations

Figure 1: Various regional and multilateral organizations are frequently tested in UPSC Preliminary and Mains examinations.

1. African Union (AU)

BASIC INFORMATION

• Established: 2001
• Headquarters: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Member Countries: 55 Countries

NEWS

African Union's membership in G20 has brought it into the limelight.

• The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located in the continent of Africa.
• The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999.
• The bloc was founded on 26 May 2001 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and launched on 9 July 2002 in Durban, South Africa.
• The intention of the AU was to replace the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which was formed back in 1963.
• AU has nine observer members (India is not an observer member).
• The most important decisions of the AU are made by the Assembly of the African Union, a semi-annual meeting of the heads of state and government of its member states.
• The largest city in the AU is Lagos, Nigeria, while the largest urban agglomeration is Cairo, Egypt.
• The African Union has over 1.3 billion people and an area of around 29 million km².
• The primary working languages are Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Kiswahili.
• Within the African Union, there are official bodies, such as the Peace and Security Council and the Pan-African Parliament.

KNOWLEDGE NUGGET — AU

• Established: 2001 | Headquarters: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Members: 55 countries
• Replaced: Organisation of African Unity (OAU) — 1963
• Sirte Declaration: 9 September 1999 (Libya)
• Launched: 9 July 2002 (Durban, South Africa)
• Observer Members: 9 (India is NOT an observer)
• Highest Authority: Assembly of the African Union
• Working Languages: Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Kiswahili

2. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

BASIC INFORMATION

• Established: 1985
• Headquarters: Kathmandu, Nepal
• Member Countries: 8 (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka)

NEWS

India is pushing the SAARC countries to restart the funding of the South Asian University.

• The idea of regional cooperation in South Asia was first raised in November 1980.
• After consultations, the foreign secretaries of the 7 founding countries met for the first time in Colombo in April 1981. Thus SAARC started functioning in 1985.
• SAARC also has 9 observer members (including China and US).
• SAARC comprises 3% of the world's area, 21% of the world's population and 3.8% (US$2.9 trillion) of the global economy.

Key Achievements

• The member countries have established a Free Trade Area (FTA).
• SAARC Preferential Trading Agreement (SAFTA) was signed for promoting trade amongst the member countries (1995).
• SAFTA: A Free Trade Agreement confined to goods, excluding all services. Agreement was signed to reduce customs duties of all traded goods to zero by the year 2016.
• SAARC Agreement on Trade in Services (SATIS): Following the GATS-plus 'positive list' approach for trade in services liberalization.
• SAARC University: Establish a SAARC university in India, a food bank and also an energy reserve in Pakistan.
• SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC-IU): Set up at Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM) Campus, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.

KNOWLEDGE NUGGET — SAARC

• Established: 1985 | Headquarters: Kathmandu, Nepal
• Members: 8 (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka)
• Observers: 9 (including China and US)
• Global Share: 3% area, 21% population, 3.8% global economy
• SAFTA: Signed 1995 — Zero customs duty by 2016
• SATIS: GATS-plus positive list approach
• SAARC University: To be established in India

3. Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)

BASIC INFORMATION

• Established: 1997
• Headquarters: Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Member Countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand

NEWS

Recently, the first-ever Foreign Ministers' meeting of BIMSTEC began in Bangkok, Thailand.

• This sub-regional organization came into being on 6th June 1997 through the Bangkok Declaration.
• In the third BIMSTEC Summit in 2014, a decision was made to establish the BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• Cooperation within BIMSTEC initially focused on six sectors in 1997 (trade, technology, energy, transport, tourism, and fisheries) and expanded in 2008 to incorporate agriculture, public health, poverty alleviation, counter-terrorism, environment, culture, people-to-people contact, and climate change.
• India focuses on security, along with counterterrorism and transnational crime, disaster management, and energy.

KNOWLEDGE NUGGET — BIMSTEC

• Established: 1997 | Headquarters: Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Members: 7 (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand)
• Bangkok Declaration: 6 June 1997
• Secretariat: Dhaka (established 2014)
• Initial Sectors (1997): 6 sectors (trade, technology, energy, transport, tourism, fisheries)
• Expanded (2008): Added agriculture, public health, poverty alleviation, counter-terrorism, environment, culture, people-to-people contact, climate change

4. Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

BASIC INFORMATION

• Established: 2001
• Headquarters: Beijing, China
• Member Countries: 9 (including India)

NEWS

India to host SCO Startup Forum 5.0 in January 2025.

• It is a successor to the mutual security agreement formed between Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan, called Shanghai 5.
• It is a permanent intergovernmental international organization established on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai by Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
• Members: India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran (latest entrant).
• The official working languages of the SCO Secretariat are Russian and Chinese.
• Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS): Established to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism.

KNOWLEDGE NUGGET — SCO

• Established: 2001 | Headquarters: Beijing, China
• Members: 9 (India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran)
• Predecessor: Shanghai 5 (1996)
• Official Languages: Russian and Chinese
• RATS: Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure — combats terrorism, separatism, extremism
• Iran: Latest entrant to SCO

5. Group of Seven (G7)

BASIC INFORMATION

• Established: 1975
• Member Countries: UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the USA

NEWS

Recently, the Prime Minister of India attended the 49th G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan.

• The Group of Seven (G7) was founded in 1975 in response to the oil crisis and includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• The European Union, which has observer status, is excluded from the rotating chairmanship.
• With the inclusion of Russia in 1998, the group temporarily became the G8. In 2014, the group returned to the G7 format.
• Over the years, it has broadened its agenda. It now covers the entire spectrum of global issues, such as foreign and security policy, trade, climate and development.
• The G7 does not have a formal charter or a secretariat.
• The presidency, which rotates among member countries each year, is in charge of setting the agenda.
• In the 15th G7 summit (Paris, 1987), FATF was formed.
• The 49th G7 summit was held in Hiroshima, Japan.
  • Key highlights: Vision of Nuclear Disarmament, Commitment to the Paris Agreement and Strengthening the Global Health Architecture.

KNOWLEDGE NUGGET — G7

• Established: 1975 | Members: 7 (UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, USA)
• Founded: In response to oil crisis (1975)
• G8 (1998-2014): Included Russia; returned to G7 in 2014
• No Charter/Secretariat: Rotating presidency
• FATF: Formed at 15th G7 Summit (Paris, 1987)
• 49th Summit: Hiroshima, Japan (2023)
• Key Highlights: Nuclear Disarmament, Paris Agreement, Global Health Architecture

6. Arab League (League of Arab States - LAS)

BASIC INFORMATION

• Established: 1945
• Headquarters: Cairo, Egypt
• Member Countries: 22 Countries

NEWS

Recently, the Arab League has re-admitted Syria into the organization, after a suspension of over a decade.

• Arab League, also called the League of Arab States (LAS), is an intergovernmental pan-Arab organization of all Arab states in the Middle East and North Africa.
• It was formed in Cairo, Egypt on 22nd March 1945 with initially just six nations: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria.
• This was following the adoption of the Alexandria Protocol in 1944.
• 22 Arab countries are its members:
  • Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
• It aims to strengthen and coordinate the political, cultural, economic, and social programs of its members and to mediate disputes among them or between them and third parties.

KNOWLEDGE NUGGET — ARAB LEAGUE

• Established: 1945 | Headquarters: Cairo, Egypt
• Members: 22 countries
• Founded: 22 March 1945 (Cairo, Egypt)
• Founding Members: 6 (Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria)
• Preceded by: Alexandria Protocol (1944)
• Syria: Re-admitted recently after suspension

7. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

BASIC INFORMATION

• Established: 1960
• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
• Member Countries: 12 countries

NEWS

The 6th High-Level Meeting of the India-OPEC Energy Dialogue brought together key representatives at the OPEC Secretariat in Vienna, Austria.

• OPEC is a permanent, intergovernmental Organization which was created at the Baghdad Conference (1960).
• The founding member nations include Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.
• These countries were later joined by Qatar (1961), Indonesia (1962), Libya (1962), the United Arab Emirates (1967), Algeria (1969), Nigeria (1971), Ecuador (1973), Gabon (1975), Angola (2007), Equatorial Guinea (2017) and Congo (2018).
• Later countries like Ecuador, Indonesia, Gabon, Qatar, and Angola suspended their membership.
• OPEC's objective is to coordinate and unify petroleum policies among member countries, to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers; an efficient, economic, and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations; and a fair return on capital to those investing in the industry.

OPEC+

• In 2016, largely in response to falling oil prices driven by significant increases in U.S. shale oil output, OPEC signed an agreement with 10 other oil-producing countries to create what is now known as OPEC+.
• OPEC+ includes 23 countries which includes 13 OPEC member countries along with Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, South Sudan, and Sudan.

OPEC+ MEMBERS

• 13 OPEC Members + 10 Non-OPEC = 23 Total
• Non-OPEC Members: Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, South Sudan, Sudan

KNOWLEDGE NUGGET — OPEC

• Established: 1960 | Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
• Members: 12 countries
• Founding Members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela
• OPEC+: 23 countries (13 OPEC + 10 Non-OPEC) — formed 2016
• Objective: Coordinate petroleum policies, fair and stable prices
• Baghdad Conference: 1960 — OPEC established

8. Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

BASIC INFORMATION

• Established: 1969
• Headquarters: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• Member Countries: 57 countries

• The OIC is the second largest organization after the United Nations spread over four continents.
• As a collective of Muslims around the world, it endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.
• The Organization was established upon a decision of the summit which took place in Rabat, Morocco on 25th September 1969.

Membership

• Permanent members: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen.
• Observer Members: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central African Republic, Kingdom of Thailand, The Russian Federation, Turkish Cypriot State.

KNOWLEDGE NUGGET — OIC

• Established: 1969 | Headquarters: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• Members: 57 countries
• Second Largest: After United Nations
• Founded: Rabat, Morocco (25 September 1969)
• Observer Members: Bosnia, Central African Republic, Thailand, Russia, Turkish Cypriot State

9. Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)

BASIC INFORMATION

• Established: 1961
• Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia
• Member Countries: 120 countries

NEWS

Recently, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who hosted the 19th Summit of NAM in Kampala, expressed his regret over the expulsion of Indians by Idi Amin in 1970s.

Theme: 'Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence.'

• It was an organization of States that did not seek to formally align themselves with either the United States or the Soviet Union but sought to remain independent or neutral.
• The first NAM Summit Conference took place in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in September 1961.
• Formed in 1961: Established during the Cold War to avoid polarization between East and West. Called the 3rd bloc against the US and Soviet Union.
• Founded in 1961 under the leadership of then Yugoslavia, Non-Aligned Movement gained more than 100 countries.

KNOWLEDGE NUGGET — NAM

• Established: 1961 | Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia
• Members: 120 countries
• First Summit: Belgrade, Yugoslavia (September 1961)
• Theme (19th Summit): "Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence"
• 19th Summit: Kampala, Uganda
• Context: Cold War — 3rd bloc against US and Soviet Union
• Leadership: Founded under Yugoslavia's leadership

10. Summary: Organizations at a Glance

Organization	Established	Headquarters	Member Countries
African Union	2001	Addis Ababa, Ethiopia	55
SAARC	1985	Kathmandu, Nepal	8
BIMSTEC	1997	Dhaka, Bangladesh	7
SCO	2001	Beijing, China	9
G7	1975	-	7
Arab League	1945	Cairo, Egypt	22
OPEC	1960	Vienna, Austria	12
OIC	1969	Jeddah, Saudi Arabia	57
NAM	1961	Jakarta, Indonesia	120

Key Takeaways for UPSC

• African Union: 2001 | Addis Ababa | 55 members | Replaced OAU (1963)
• SAARC: 1985 | Kathmandu | 8 members | SAFTA (1995), SATIS
• BIMSTEC: 1997 | Dhaka | 7 members | Bangkok Declaration
• SCO: 2001 | Beijing | 9 members | RATS | Iran latest entrant
• G7: 1975 | No HQ | 7 members | G8 (1998-2014) | FATF formed at 15th Summit
• Arab League: 1945 | Cairo | 22 members | Alexandria Protocol (1944)
• OPEC: 1960 | Vienna | 12 members | OPEC+ (2016) — 23 members
• OIC: 1969 | Jeddah | 57 members | Second largest after UN
• NAM: 1961 | Jakarta | 120 members | 1st Summit: Belgrade (1961)

High-Yield Interactive UPSC Quiz (Regional and Multilateral Organizations)

Q1. The African Union replaced which organization?

Correct Answer: C. The African Union replaced the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was formed in 1963.

Q2. SAARC was established in which year?

Correct Answer: C. SAARC was established in 1985. The idea was first raised in November 1980, and the first meeting was in Colombo in April 1981.

Q3. The headquarters of BIMSTEC is located in:

Correct Answer: C. The headquarters of BIMSTEC is located in Dhaka, Bangladesh, established in 2014 after the third BIMSTEC Summit.

Q4. Which is the latest country to join the SCO?

Correct Answer: C. Iran is the latest entrant to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Q5. The G7 was founded in response to which event?

Correct Answer: B. The G7 was founded in 1975 in response to the oil crisis and includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US.

Q6. The Arab League was formed on the basis of which protocol?

Correct Answer: C. The Arab League was formed following the adoption of the Alexandria Protocol in 1944, and officially established on 22 March 1945.

Q7. OPEC was established at which conference?

Correct Answer: C. OPEC was established at the Baghdad Conference in 1960 with five founding members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.

Q8. OPEC+ includes how many total countries?

Correct Answer: C. OPEC+ includes 23 countries — 13 OPEC member countries along with 10 other oil-producing countries.

Q9. OIC is the second largest organization after which organization?

Correct Answer: C. The OIC is the second largest organization after the United Nations, spread over four continents.

Q10. The first NAM Summit Conference was held in which city?

Correct Answer: C. The first NAM Summit Conference took place in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in September 1961.

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