Regional security, transport connectivity discussed in Dushanbe forum

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 30 April, a Central Asian Security Forum was held in Dushanbe on the topic: “Security Architecture of Central Asia: Modern Challenges, Threats and Strategic Opportunities.”

A delegation from the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan participated in the event.

The forum was organized by the Center for Strategic Research under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

The event brought together representatives of analytical and academic communities from regional states, as well as international organizations engaged in regional security and peacebuilding.

Discussions focused on contemporary security challenges and threats in Central Asia, their forecasting and transformation, as well as the impact of transregional processes, socio-economic factors, and transport and logistics connectivity on regional stability.

Special attention was given to the consequences of conflicts along the perimeter of Central Asia and the rise of non-traditional threats, particularly in the information and communications sphere. Participants emphasized the need to strengthen regional coordination and improve collective response mechanisms.

In their remarks, representatives of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies outlined key trends in the transformation of regional security amid increasing geopolitical fragmentation and growing interdependence of global and regional processes. According to Murad Uzakov, head of the ISRS Center, deeper interconnectedness of economies, infrastructure, and information spaces objectively increases the influence of external factors on regional stability, making coordinated approaches among Central Asian states increasingly important.

It was noted that regional countries are consistently strengthening elements of regional agency, forming more resilient and institutionalized formats of cooperation. In this context, initiatives to develop regional dialogue, transport connectivity, and multi-vector cooperation are of particular importance. Uzbekistan’s initiatives to promote integration and strengthen regional resilience were highlighted as a significant contribution.

Special attention was also paid to the water and climate agenda, which is gaining strategic importance for the region, as well as the formation of regional identity as a key factor for long-term stability and sustainable development.

The discussions emphasized the importance of the Consultative Meetings of Central Asian Heads of State as a stable mechanism for coordinating regional cooperation. It was noted that documents adopted following the 7th meeting, including the Concept of Regional Security and Stability in Central Asia and the Catalogue of Central Asian Security Risks and Measures for Their Prevention for 2026–2028, provide a foundation for further deepening cooperation and implementing agreements.

Transport connectivity was a separate focus of the agenda. Azamat Sulimanov, head of an ISRS department, noted its growing importance as a key driver of economic growth in Central Asia.

He stated that amid geopolitical instability, there is an increasing need to diversify routes and develop additional logistics corridors, including for Uzbekistan and other regional countries.

It was highlighted that external crises, including those in the Middle East, significantly affect global supply chains, increasing transport costs, delivery times, and logistical complexity.

In this context, regions capable of ensuring the stability of transit flows are becoming increasingly important. Central Asia is increasingly seen as an important element of the emerging Eurasian geo-economic architecture.

The growing importance of the region’s airspace as a stable transit route between Europe and Asia was also emphasized, along with a gradual shift from a “land-locked” to a “land-linked” model based on integrated transport infrastructure and deep connectivity.

At the same time, participants stressed that the implementation of large-scale infrastructure agendas requires stronger intergovernmental coordination and unified project management mechanisms, including the development of integrated transport infrastructure and major projects such as the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, the Trans-Afghan corridor, and Trans-Caspian routes, as well as logistics digitalization.

In this context, participants supported the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to establish a Council for Infrastructure Development at the level of deputy prime ministers, viewing it as an important step toward strengthening regional coordination and improving the efficiency of integration projects in Central Asia.