Tajikistan: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called on the five Central Asian nations Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan to substantially increase their trade with Russia, emphasizing the region’s untapped economic potential. Speaking at a summit in Dushanbe, the Tajik capital, Putin highlighted that while combined trade with these nations reached over $45 billion last year, it still fell short compared to Russia’s trade with Belarus, a country with a significantly smaller population.
Addressing the summit, Putin underscored the strategic importance of strengthening economic cooperation with Central Asia, a region Russia historically regards as within its sphere of influence. He framed the call for enhanced trade as a necessary step to counterbalance the growing presence of China, which has increasingly expanded its economic and infrastructural investments across the region. According to Putin, a deeper economic engagement would not only benefit Russia but also promote stability and mutual growth for the Central Asian states.
Beyond trade, the summit agenda included broader cooperation initiatives. Leaders discussed the development of transport and logistics networks, improvements in trade and financial systems, and closer collaboration in security matters, including counter-terrorism and anti-drug operations. The participating countries concluded with a joint communique expressing their intent to deepen strategic and economic ties with Russia while also seeking to protect their own national interests.
Analysts suggest that Putin’s appeal reflects Moscow’s broader strategy to reaffirm its influence in Central Asia amid shifting geopolitical dynamics. With Russia’s attention largely absorbed by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Central Asian nations have increasingly engaged with China and other global partners. Strengthening trade and strategic ties with Russia could serve as a balancing act, enabling these nations to navigate the competing interests of major powers in the region.
The effectiveness of this initiative will depend on the willingness of Central Asian governments to expand economic ties with Russia while simultaneously maintaining diversified relationships with other global actors. For Moscow, success in this endeavor is seen as crucial not only for economic reasons but also for reasserting Russia’s traditional influence in a region critical to its geopolitical interests.