Leaders of CIS member states signed an agreement establishing the new ‘CIS Plus’ format at a summit in Dushanbe, expanding the organisation’s framework for cooperation with other states and regional bodies.
Eurasian leaders have signed a landmark agreement creating the “CIS Plus” format, a new platform designed to deepen cooperation between Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) members and external partners, during the CIS Heads of State Summit in Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe.
According to a statement released by the Kremlin, a total of 19 documents were signed following the meeting, including decisions on the establishment of the “CIS Plus” format and the granting of observer status to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) within the CIS.
The summit, chaired by Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, brought together the heads of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as CIS Secretary-General Sergey Lebedev. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also took part in the discussions.
During the meeting, the leaders reviewed key areas of cooperation and adopted several strategic documents, including programmes to counter terrorism and extremism (2026–2028), strengthen border security (2026–2030), and the Concept of Military Cooperation until 2030. A declaration on regional energy security was also approved.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who attended the restricted-format session, voiced Moscow’s strong support for the “CIS Plus” initiative, calling it an important mechanism to engage a broader circle of states and organisations.
“This will allow us to more actively engage other states and international organisations in the Commonwealth,” Putin said, according to a Kremlin transcript, also highlighting Russia’s backing for closer cooperation between the CIS and the SCO.
Putin also congratulated Turkmenistan on assuming the CIS chairmanship for 2026, inviting leaders to an informal CIS meeting in St. Petersburg later this year.
He noted that he had discussed with several counterparts the outcome of his August summit in Alaska with U.S. President Donald Trump, describing the talks as “positive” and noting that Moscow’s subsequent approach to resolving the conflict in Ukraine would be guided by the principles agreed there.
The CIS, founded in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan as full members, with Turkmenistan holding associate status. Moldova suspended its participation in 2022.
The Dushanbe summit marked a new phase in the organisation’s evolution, with the “CIS Plus” framework expected to strengthen engagement with external partners and enhance the region’s collective role in Eurasian affairs.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington is not seeking an extension of its memorandum of understanding with...
Iran says it will use all diplomatic and legal channels to determine the fate of three Air Force pilots it believes are being held in Qatar after t...
Nearly a week after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, hopes of finding more survivors are fading as rescue teams search ...
At least 11 people were killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday, among the deadliest since a June ceasefire. Meanwhile, Qatar denied holding Iranian pilots. It said it had found the remains of one pilot after an airspace violation and had contacted Iran to coordinate a handover.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington is not seeking an extension of its memorandum of understanding with Iran, claiming the U.S. already controls the Strait of Hormuz through its naval blockade.
A wildfire in Croatia driven by strong winds descended on the tourist town of Omis overnight, engulfing houses, forcing about 1,000 people to evacuate to safety and injuring dozens, fire brigade and health officials said on Friday.
South Korea's presidential Blue House said on Monday it was reviewing U.S. President Donald Trump's comments on scaling back joint military drills. It added that it hoped a favourable relationship between Washington and Pyongyang could lead to meaningful talks.
Residents of villages in eastern Indonesia hit by a deadly earthquake that killed at least 54 people were awaiting aid on Monday as rescuers prepared to comb through collapsed buildings in search of people trapped beneath the rubble.
Nearly a week after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, hopes of finding more survivors are fading as rescue teams search collapsed buildings and communities confront widespread destruction.
Central Asia has become a major focus for Eurasian transport investment, with $71.7 billion committed to 114 projects, according to the Eurasian Development Bank’s 2026 Transport Observatory.
The European Union is preparing what foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has described as its most far-reaching sanctions package against Russia since the war in Ukraine began.
Weeks after thousands of students protested in New Delhi over alleged failures in India’s examination system, the so-called Cockroach movement is taking its campaign to the grassroots, launching audits of state-run schools.
UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany visited Ukraine for the first time since taking office, meeting Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha in Kyiv on 15 August to discuss protecting the country’s cultural heritage amid continued Russian attacks.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment