The Foreign Policy of Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a state in the Central Asian region, whose location has significant geopolitical and geo-economic importance as a connecting bridge between the West and the East, as well as the North and the South. Kyrgyzstan, like other Central Asian states, is a meeting point of four cultural and civilizational layers: European, Arab-Muslim, Persian, and Chinese. This circumstance, on one hand, created favorable conditions for the development of bilateral and multilateral cooperation in various areas, and on the other hand, necessitated the conduct of a flexible and balanced foreign policy.

The foreign policy of the Kyrgyz Republic since gaining independence has been based on the provisions of the Constitution, the Declaration of State Independence, norms of international law, and adherence to the goals and principles of the UN and OSCE. Being an organic continuation of domestic policy, Kyrgyzstan's foreign policy reflected the consolidated interests of the multinational, multi-confessional people of the republic.

During this period, Kyrgyzstan actively developed diplomatic and other relations with most countries of the world. The realization of Kyrgyzstan's national interests was primarily ensured by the development of friendly, mutually beneficial relations with neighbors, major powers, and integration associations of the global community.

The priorities of foreign policy that ensured national interests were structured as follows:

• ensuring and protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity;
• creating favorable external conditions for implementing economic and democratic reforms;
• protecting the rights, freedoms, and interests of Kyrgyz citizens.

Priority directions of foreign policy:

• Russia;
• Western vector;
• Asian vector;
• Regional vector.

The main tasks of foreign policy during this period were:

• strengthening stability and security in the region;
• developing good-neighborly relations with neighboring states and deepening integration processes in Central Asia;
• promoting the strengthening of the CIS and realizing the economic and political potential of the Commonwealth;
• strengthening friendly ties with highly developed countries of the West and East;
• developing cooperation with UN organizations, its specialized agencies, regional international organizations, and financial and economic institutions;
• strengthening cooperation with developing countries and transitional economies.

In a concentrated form, Kyrgyzstan's foreign policy concept was expressed in the principle of "AND-AND," rather than "OR-OR." Kyrgyzstan adhered to this line, particularly in relations with major powers.

In geopolitical terms, the Kyrgyz Republic positioned itself as a country of regional significance, unable to claim a global role in world politics on par with major countries. However, like any state, Kyrgyzstan had its own national interests, for the sake of which it structured its foreign policy and national security framework, aligning as much as possible with the interests of the global community.

Kyrgyzstan directly faced the threat of international terrorism. In 1999-2000, dramatic events occurred in southern Kyrgyzstan related to the invasion of well-armed bandit formations of international Islamic terrorists, who had years of combat experience in Afghanistan and Tajikistan. International terrorists employed barbaric methods such as hostage-taking, including foreign nationals, and the killing of civilians. Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia provided decisive and firm support for Kyrgyzstan's efforts to eliminate these bandit formations. The states of the region demonstrated to the international community their determination to jointly and coordinatedly counteract acts of international terrorism. This once again confirmed that it is vital for Kyrgyzstan to create a multi-layered and multi-level security system that reliably protects the national interests of the republic.

Kyrgyzstan implemented its foreign policy through both collective instruments of a global and regional nature established in the global community and through bilateral and multilateral cooperation with its partners.

At the global level, the main partner was the United Nations as a universal body that encompasses almost all aspects of international life through specialized agencies operating under its auspices.

At the regional level, these include the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Eurasian Economic Community, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Economic Cooperation Organization, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the cooperation system with NATO and other organizations.