Central Asia and South Caucasus forge stronger ties at Tashkent summit

Central Asian leaders agreed to transform their regional cooperation from a consultative forum into a formal strategic community during a landmark summit in Tashkent that welcomed Azerbaijan as an official member.

The Seventh Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Heads of State marked what officials described as a new dawn in regional integration, with participants backing proposals to establish permanent institutions and elevate diplomatic coordination.

"The times demand that we transform our meetings from a consultative format of regional dialogue into a strategic format called The Community of Central Asia," Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev told the gathering.

Mirziyoyev proposed creating formal regulations for the meetings, establishing a rotating secretariat and upgrading national coordinators to presidential special representatives to strengthen institutional foundations.

Azerbaijan's membership signals closer ties

Azerbaijan's inclusion as a full participant represents a significant expansion of the bloc's geographical reach, linking Central Asia more directly with the South Caucasus.

Abdulaziz Komilov, foreign policy adviser to Uzbekistan's president, said the move creates "a new geopolitical and geoeconomic region" capable of promoting broader stability across both areas.

The integration reflects growing economic ties, with trade between Central Asian states expanding rapidly. Uzbekistan's commerce with regional neighbours jumped from €2.8 billion in 2017 to €6 billion in 2024.

Industrial collaboration dominated summit discussions, with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan alone signing an $8 billion cooperation programme covering joint enterprises targeting both domestic and international markets.

"Central Asian businessmen are now entering third-country markets together, as exporters of regional products," Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin said.

Regional industrial growth averages 6% annually, double the global rate, according to summit data.

Security framework established

Leaders adopted several key agreements including a concept for regional security and stability, plus a catalogue of security risks and prevention measures covering 2026-2028.

The summit also backed Kyrgyzstan's candidacy for non-permanent UN Security Council membership during 2027-2028.

Mirziyoyev outlined the region's transformation through open borders, resolved territorial disputes and the expansion of transport links, calling for continued efforts to build what he termed a "New Central Asia".

The institutional changes aim to give Central Asian states a unified voice on the international stage while addressing shared challenges including water resources, climate change and ecological issues.