On 30 April 2026, the Central Asian Security Forum titled “The Security Architecture of Central Asia: Current Challenges, Threats and Strategic Opportunities” took place at the Center for Strategic Research under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan.
The high-level event was organized by the Center for Strategic Research under the President of Tajikistan together with the Regional Office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Central Asia. More than 100 representatives from presidential strategic research institutes of Central Asian countries, experts, representatives of international organizations and foundations, and diplomatic mission staff accredited in Tajikistan took part.
At the official opening ceremony, welcoming remarks were made by the Director of the Center for Strategic Research under the President of Tajikistan, Khairiddin Usmonzoda; the Head of the Strategic Research Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, Mirzosharif Jalolov; and the Regional Representative of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation for Central Asia, Andre Algermissen.
In their speeches, the speakers emphasized that the forum aims to comprehensively analyze current realities in the context of Central Asian security and to assess approaches and concepts formed both inside and outside the region. It was noted that a substantive and open expert dialogue will not only clarify key issues but also produce practical recommendations to strengthen lasting peace and security.
The forum continued with four thematic sessions: “Intra-regional Challenges and Opportunities for Central Asian Security”, “Transregional Challenges and Opportunities for Central Asian Security”, “Socio-economic and Transport-Transit Aspects of Ensuring Central Asian Security”, and “Potential Challenges and Strategic Opportunities for Central Asia in the Near Future”.
Participants discussed intra-regional risks and threats, prospects for cooperation and sustainable development, and external security factors — from border strengthening to socio-economic, climate and extremist challenges, including trade, infrastructure development and possible regional development scenarios.
During the session “Intra-regional Challenges and Opportunities for Central Asian Security”, the Director of the Center for Strategic Research under the President of Tajikistan, Khairiddin Usmonzoda, delivered a report.
He noted that the Republic of Tajikistan consistently develops partnership cooperation with regional countries in the field of security, giving priority to strengthening the state border, developing information-sharing mechanisms, and countering illegal drug trafficking and transnational organized crime.
These efforts are synchronized with tasks implemented under the Dushanbe Process to combat terrorism, initiated in 2018 in partnership with the UN Counter-Terrorism Office. This initiative has become a sought-after international platform for coordinating efforts against modern threats.
It was noted that the functioning of such mechanisms helps develop coordinated approaches to assessing both traditional threats and new security challenges, including hybrid risks and non-traditional instability factors.
According to Kh. Usmonzoda, the implemented initiatives show that Central Asian states, alongside expanding external partnerships, are active participants in shaping the regional security architecture. The focus is not only on strengthening defense capabilities but also on institutional development — creating stable platforms, mechanisms and formats for broad cooperation.
Today, Central Asian security is determined not only by resources and institutions but above all by the ability of regional states to act coherently, strategically and proactively. In current conditions, those who not only respond to crises but also create conditions that prevent them are the winners.
In this regard, Central Asia seeks to be not an object of external strategies but an independent actor in forming its own security architecture based on trust, pragmatism and mutual responsibility, noted the Center’s Director Kh. Usmonzoda.
Experts from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan also spoke at the forum. Their speeches stressed the importance of regional cooperation amid the transformation of the global economic order. Special attention was given to integrating national economic strategies with regional and global processes and gradually moving away from excessive protectionism toward open and mutually beneficial cooperation.
It was noted that 2025 was a period of high global turbulence and a rethinking of established rules of international politics. In this context, intra-regional risks and opportunities for Central Asia gain special relevance. It was emphasized that the region has moved beyond its former role as a “background” for external decisions. Today it is not just about the presence of risks but about a deep transformation in the nature of modern threats.
Central Asia today is becoming a space of consolidation. There is a shift from ideological approaches to pragmatism: issues of borders, water resources, logistics and trade are increasingly resolved based on careful economic calculation, opening new strategic opportunities for regional states.
In particular, the decisions of the VI Consultative Meeting of Heads of State in Astana (August 2024) were an important step, where strategic documents were adopted, including the “Central Asia–2040” concept.
Special attention was paid to ecology and water security. Forum participants expressed serious concern about the accelerating melting of the Tien Shan and Pamir glaciers. It was stressed that this process is twofold: in the short term it may increase water flow, but in the long term it may lead to a critical reduction. This poses a direct threat to agricultural security in the region, especially given the region’s high dependence on irrigation. Thus, the water-energy and climate agenda becomes a key element of new regional resilience, the Forum participants emphasized.
Summing up, the Director of the Center for Strategic Research, Khairiddin Usmonzoda, noted the successful conclusion of the forum and thanked all participants.
In his speech he stressed that the experts’ constructive proposals will not only identify new directions for cooperation but also develop practical mechanisms to strengthen regional security amid global instability.
He said that consolidating the efforts of regional states and effectively using intellectual and material resources are especially important for timely responses to modern challenges.
Khairiddin Usmonzoda expressed confidence that the agreements reached at the forum and the strengthened partnerships will contribute to further development of cooperation and to building trust among Central Asian countries.
In conclusion, he confirmed the Center for Strategic Research’ readiness to expand cooperation with all interested partners and thanked the organizers for the high level of event preparation.
The forum ended on a positive note, confirming the Central Asian countries’ commitment to jointly ensuring peace, stability and sustainable development in the region.
Press Service of the Center for Strategic Research
under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan