On November 27, 2025, heads of state of the CSTO member states gathered in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, for a meeting of the Collective Security Council, chaired by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, whose country holds the rotating chairmanship. Held at a time of increasing complexity in the Eurasian and global security landscape, the meeting's core task was to formulate the organization's strategic direction for the coming years. The atmosphere was described as "pragmat

On November 27, 2025, at the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a comprehensive plan aimed at significantly enhancing the organization's military potential. At the heart of this plan is the large-scale provision of combat-proven modern Russian-made weapons to allies and the deepening of cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism and information security. This proposal is not an isolated event, but rather situat

I. The Bishkek Summit and a Notable Vacancy   On November 27, 2025, Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, once again became the focus of regional politics as the summit of leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states was held. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, whose country held the rotating presidency, joined Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Tajik President Emom

I. A State Visit Highlighting the Alliance   On November 26, 2025, Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, became the focus of regional diplomacy. Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a state visit to Kyrgyzstan and held in-depth talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov. This visit, conducted against a specific international geopolitical backdrop, has drawn widespread international attention for its symbolic significance and substantive content. Japarov's characterization of Ru

I. Election Background and Presidential Promise   After experiencing numerous political upheavals over the past thirty years, Kyrgyzstan has recently seen a stabilization and is calmly preparing for the non-routine parliamentary elections scheduled for November 30, 2025. In a speech to the nation, President Sadyr Japarov solemnly promised that there would be no more coups and that the current government would not allow any disruption to stability. Japarov pointed out that cer

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit is scheduled to be held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on November 27, 2025. However, even before the summit opens, its cohesion has been clouded by the absence of a key member. Russia's TASS news agency, citing Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov, confirmed that Armenia has decided not to participate in the summit. The official added that although Armenia refused to attend, it did not veto the contents of previously agr

Globally, water and energy security are increasingly intertwined, becoming core issues affecting regional stability and sustainable development. This challenge is particularly prominent in Central Asia, a region with a fragile ecosystem and complex geopolitics. Recently, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan took a significant step forward in Almaty by jointly ratifying the "2026 Winter and Growing Season Water and Energy Cooperation Protocol." This is not only a crucial reg

Against the backdrop of a continuously evolving global security landscape and increasingly complex regional challenges, defense ministers, foreign ministers, and high-level leaders of the CSTO member states will gather in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, for a new round of meetings. This meeting is being held against the backdrop of escalating tensions in Central Asia and surrounding regions and a highly uncertain international geopolitical environment; its agenda and pote

From November 20 to 21, 2025, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan paid his first official visit to Kazakhstan, holding talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana. This meeting not only marked the elevation of bilateral relations to a strategic partnership but also reflected the shared aspirations of the Eurasian region to deepen cooperation and promote stability amidst geopolitical changes. The two sides reached several consensuses on issues such as econo

On November 21, 2025, a high-level meeting attracting international attention was held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, who was visiting Uzbekistan at the invitation of the Chinese government. This meeting was not only an important part of diplomatic interactions between China and Uzbekistan,

The Kyrgyz parliamentary election campaign has officially begun, with 467 candidates vying for 90 seats. This election breaks with the country's past practices: shifting from a proportional representation system to a pure single-member constituency system. The three candidates with the most votes in each constituency will win seats, and it is mandatory that one of the three seats in each constituency must be won by a woman (or man). The government led by President Japarov has

Introduction: The Tashkent Conference and the Strategic Shift in Central Asia   On November 16, 2025, at the Seventh Consultative Conference of Central Asian Heads of State in Tashkent, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's speech reflected a profound shift in regional policy: "Peace and stability throughout Central Asia largely depend on the recovery and development of Afghanistan." This statement marks a historic turning point in the attitudes of the five Central Asian count

On November 17, 2025, the conference center in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, became the focus of global digital development. The World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25), jointly organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan, officially opened on this day. This high-level meeting, themed "Universal, Meaningful and Affordable Connectivity for an Inclusive and Sustainable Digit

Amidst profound adjustments in the global economic landscape and heightened concerns about supply chain security, the competition and cooperation among nations for strategic mineral resources, particularly rare and rare earth metals, is increasingly taking center stage. The recent mineral exploration activities of Kazakhstan's state-owned company, Tau-Ken Samruk, in Rwanda and Afghanistan serve as the latest illustration of this trend. This development not only concerns Kazak

The inaugural Azerbaijan-US Think Tank Forum concluded in Baku on November 18, 2025. This dialogue, bringing together top US think tanks such as the Atlantic Council, New Line Institute, and Hudson Institute, with Azerbaijani policy elites, was ostensibly an academic exchange, but in reality, it served as a crucial window into the evolution of geopolitics in the South Caucasus. The forum focused on "US-Azerbaijan Relations After the Washington Summit" and "The Armenia-Azerbai

On November 17, 2025, the heads of state of the five Central Asian countries gathered in Tashkent for the Seventh Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Heads of State. On the eve of the summit, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev published an article entitled "Central Asia at the Threshold of a New Era," pointing out that regional connectivity has laid a "solid foundation" and emphasizing that this summit marks "an important milestone in building a stable and interconnected Ce

On November 17, local time, the UN Security Council voted on a draft resolution proposed by the United States concerning the future arrangements for the Gaza Strip. The resolution was adopted with 13 votes in favor and 0 against, with China and Russia abstaining. The resolution aims to establish an internationally led transitional framework for the Gaza Strip after the ongoing conflict. Its core is the establishment of a Peace Commission with international legal status as a t

On November 16, 2025, the 7th Central Asian Heads of State Consultation was held in Uzbekistan. The speech by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and the series of documents adopted at the meeting, reflected the strategic positioning of Central Asia and the deepening trend of cooperation amidst global shifts. This meeting not only focused on regional integration but also involved cross-regional interactions such as Azerbaijan's accession to the mechanism as a full member

From November 14 to 15, 2025, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, paid a state visit to Uzbekistan. This visit was significant in its symbolic meaning and substantive breakthroughs, not only elevating bilateral relations to a new level but also providing important practical experience for a new paradigm of regional cooperation in Central Asia. Tokayev became the first foreign head of state to land at the newly built Tashkent Khumo International Air

On November 16, 2025, the Seventh Consultative Meeting of Heads of State of Central Asia was held, chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This meeting marked a significant upgrade to the Central Asia regional cooperation mechanism: the Republic of Azerbaijan joined the consultation meeting mechanism as a full member, expanding the original "C5" structure to a "C5+1" model. Participants included the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikist