The growing interest in Central Asia, especially from leading countries, has become noticeable in recent years. This year, the presidents of the region held several meetings with high-ranking representatives from the European Union, China, and Russia. It is also possible that a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump may take place before the end of the year. This statement was made by political scientist and director of the "Oy Ordo" Center for Strategic Studies, Igor Shestakov, at a roundtable dedicated to geopolitical and economic issues in the Central Asia +1 format, organized by the same center.
In the context of global instability, the 5+1 format is becoming more structured and purposeful, which facilitates more prompt solutions to tasks, especially in the economic sphere. Igor Shestakov reminded that the idea of creating a SCO development bank was proposed back in Bishkek in 2008, and only now, nearly 20 years later, is this issue beginning to move forward. SCO countries have already started signing agreements to establish this financial structure, which is an important step for the implementation of large investment projects. Processes within the five are also developing faster, he noted.
The political scientist also pointed out the discrepancy between the statements of Brussels and Washington regarding cooperation and their real actions.
“Despite the growing interest of the EU and the U.S. in the region, especially in rare earth metals, they threaten Central Asia with sanctions. The President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, spoke about this from the UN podium, mentioning billions in trade turnover between Russia and the EU, while two of our banks, 'Keremet' and 'Kapital', found themselves under sanctions. The president emphasized that no evidence was provided of their involvement in financing Russian military projects. As a result, Kyrgyzstan's international reputation has suffered. This may negatively affect trust from global financial institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF, as well as lead to increased control and pressure on Bishkek, which could complicate traditional ties with Russia,” added Shestakov.
Igor Shestakov also commented on the summit that took place last week in Dushanbe, where Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the leaders of Central Asia.
“At this meeting, the prospects for cooperation were discussed, confirming Moscow's key role in our region. The leaders of Central Asian countries noted the positive dynamics in the fields of energy and transport logistics. Currently, trade turnover between Russia and Central Asia exceeds 40 billion dollars. Paradoxically, anti-Russian sanctions have actually become a catalyst for business activation. The meeting in Dushanbe showed that sanctions did not push Moscow to the periphery, but opened new opportunities,” emphasized the political scientist.
He also expressed his opinion on possible changes in the "five" format in the future.
“The possibility of Azerbaijan joining is increasingly being discussed, which could become a reality. Baku is actively participating in economic and transport projects in Central Asia. It is possible that we will see a 6+1 format as early as next year. Nevertheless, the most suitable option for the region remains the Central Asian Union, which has been in development for many years. This format aligns with the national interests of the countries in the region, where sovereignty is a priority. On this basis, further cooperation can be built, agreements can be concluded, and significant investments can be attracted to the economy of Central Asia,” concluded Igor Shestakov.
