UPDATE – 2nd Russia–Central Asia summit opens in Dushanbe

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By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - The second Russia–Central Asia Summit began Thursday in Tajikistan’s capital of Dushanbe, with regional leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin set to focus on trade, energy, logistics and regional security amid growing tensions in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

Putin’s three-day state visit to Tajikistan from Oct. 8–10 includes the summit and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Heads of State Council meeting.

The Russian president held talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon ahead of the summit, discussing the development of the strategic partnership and allied relations between their countries. Following the meeting, the sides signed a series of agreements, including on labor migration, and issued a statement reaffirming cooperation in various sectors.

The Kremlin said the summit’s agenda centers on enhancing cooperation between Russia and the Central Asian nations in trade, finance, industry, logistics and energy. A final communiqué and a Joint Action Plan for 2025–2027 are expected to be adopted.

Participants will also address regional security challenges, with special attention to developments in Afghanistan and the Middle East, according to the Kremlin.

Putin also met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, their first in-person talks since the December 2024 Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash, and offered an apology for the crash, expressing condolences to the victims’ families.

Putin said the crash occurred after Russian air defenses intercepted Ukrainian drones near the area, with debris from nearby explosions striking the plane. He said Russia would compensate the families and carry out a legal investigation.

On Friday, the CIS Heads of State Council is expected to discuss the practical dimension of cooperation, including new programs on external border security (2026-2030), combating terrorism and extremism (2026-2028) and a concept for military cooperation until 2030.

It will also consider establishing the “CIS Plus” format and granting observer status in the CIS to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The CIS, established after the collapse of the Soviet Union, unites several former Soviet republics to promote economic, political and security cooperation.

The first Russia–Central Asia Summit was held in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana on Oct. 14, 2022, alongside the CIS Heads of State Council meeting chaired by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.