EU and Central Asia join efforts to address security challenges

European Commission

The High-Level Political and Security Dialogue between the European Union and the countries of Central Asia held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

The annual dialogue provided an opportunity to discuss common global and regional security challenges resulting from Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine as well as the situation in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

The meeting also served as a platform to exchange views on emerging threats such as disinformation, cyberattacks, and hybrid threats. All participants acknowledged that the current turbulent geopolitical environment significantly affects the security, stability, and economic development of both regions.

The participants agreed to intensify cooperation on security, with the European Union reiterating its willingness to support these efforts. They welcomed progress on the implementation of the Joint Roadmap for Deepening Ties between the EU and Central Asia, particularly in Key Area 4, which focuses on addressing security challenges.

They also discussed strengthening regional cooperation on a number of key issues, including counter-terrorism and violent extremism, border management and illicit drug trafficking, as well as water management and connectivity.

European Commission

The High-Level Political and Security Dialogue was held back-to-back with the first-ever EU-Central Asia Counter-Terrorism (CT) Dialogue, that took place on 10 July 2025 in Dushanbe.

The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs at the European External Action Service, Olof Skoog, with participation of the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Meder Abakirov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Ismatullo Nasredin, Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Muzaffar Madrakhimov, the Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Stanislav Vassilenko and Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Tajikistan Aymyrat Gochmyradov.

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