CIS Security Cooperation: Addressing Common Challenges Amidst Global Change

I. Meeting Background and Overview

The 21st Meeting of Heads of Security and Intelligence Services of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member states was held in Yerevan, Armenia, from October 16 to 17, 2024. This high-level security conference brought together leaders of security and intelligence agencies from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. As a key annual mechanism for security cooperation within the CIS framework, the meeting aims to assess the current security situation and coordinate member states' positions and actions to address increasingly complex regional and global security challenges.

The meeting agenda focused on a range of pressing non-traditional security issues, including international counter-terrorism, information security, combating transnational organized crime, border security, and preventing and controlling extremism. Participants held in-depth discussions in closed-door sessions aimed at strengthening the security cooperation network within the CIS and enhancing joint crisis response capabilities. This conference took place amidst the ongoing evolution of the global geopolitical landscape and increasing regional security uncertainty, garnering widespread international attention regarding its topics and outcomes.

II. In-Depth Analysis of Core Topics

1. Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Extremism: Persistent Challenges and Coordinated Responses. Terrorism and extremism are considered one of the most direct threats to stability in the CIS region. The conference focused on new trends in terrorist activities influenced by evolving international dynamics, including the movement of foreign terrorist fighters, the use of the internet for propaganda and recruitment, and the diversification of terrorist financing channels. Participants shared experiences and intelligence on monitoring, preventing, and combating terrorist activities. Given that some countries in the region have faced severe terrorist threats in the past and are located at the nexus of Europe and Asia, preventing terrorist forces from exploiting the region's complex terrain and social contradictions to expand their influence became a consensus among participating countries. The conference emphasized the importance of further implementing relevant CIS counter-terrorism conventions, improving mechanisms for the immediate exchange of intelligence, and conducting joint counter-terrorism exercises and personnel training, all with the goal of building a more robust inland security barrier.

2. Information Security and Cybersecurity: Addressing Threats in the Digital Age. With the accelerating digitalization of all sectors of society, cybersecurity threats have risen to an unprecedented level of prominence. The meeting discussed in depth topics such as protecting critical information infrastructure, combating cybercrime and cyberterrorism, and preventing the use of the information space for interference in internal affairs and destabilization. Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries face the challenge of increasingly sophisticated and specialized cyberattacks, which may originate from transnational criminal organizations, terrorist groups, and even certain state actors. The meeting called for strengthened policy coordination and technical cooperation in cybersecurity within the CIS framework, including the establishment of a joint cyber threat early warning system, the sharing of malware signature information, and coordinated procedures for responding to large-scale cyber incidents. This initiative aims to jointly enhance the cyber resilience of member states and safeguard sovereignty and social stability in the digital age.

3. Combating Transnational Organized Crime: Maintaining the Foundation of Economic and Social Order. Transnational organized crime was another focus of the meeting. Topics covered illicit drug trafficking (particularly drug smuggling routes originating from Afghanistan), arms smuggling, illegal migration, human trafficking, and corruption. These criminal activities are often interconnected, undermining national governance, threatening the safety of citizens, and potentially providing financial support for terrorism. Participants recognized that the efforts of individual countries are insufficient to effectively curb highly networked and internationalized criminal groups and that close regional cooperation is essential. The meeting discussed specific approaches to strengthening operational coordination among law enforcement agencies, improving legal assistance mechanisms, and sharing risk information at border crossings and transportation hubs, aiming to more effectively disrupt criminal chains and safeguard the normal order of regional economic activity.

4. Regional Hotspots and Border Security: The Need for Stability amid Geopolitical Turbulence. The meeting inevitably addressed regional hotspots affecting stability within and around the CIS. The protracted Ukrainian crisis, potential risks in the Caucasus, and the security situation along Central Asia's southern border with Afghanistan were all topics of concern to participants. These hotspots not only directly impact the security of the countries involved but also have the potential to have spillover effects, impacting the stability of the entire CIS region. The meeting emphasized the importance of resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomatic means. It also focused on strengthening joint control of the CIS's external borders to prevent security risks arising from regional conflicts (such as arms proliferation and armed infiltration) from spreading regionally.

III. Significance in the Global Security Context

From a global perspective, the significance of the CIS Security Conference extends beyond its geographical scope.

First, it reflects the necessity of multilateralism in addressing global security challenges. In today's world, security threats know no borders. Non-traditional security challenges such as terrorism, cybercrime, climate change, and public health crises require countries to transcend political differences and engage in pragmatic cooperation. As a key multilateral platform in the post-Soviet space, the CIS's internal security coordination mechanism is a regional component of the international community's efforts to build a broad security network. The continued holding of this conference demonstrates that, even amidst internal differences and external pressures, relevant countries are striving to manage shared risks through dialogue and cooperation.

Secondly, it reveals the complexity and interconnectedness of the regional security architecture. The CIS's security agenda overlaps and interacts with regional mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Furthermore, the foreign policy orientations and security concerns of its member states vary, requiring security cooperation within the CIS to be advanced on the basis of balancing the interests of all parties. The effectiveness of implementing the conference's outcomes will, to a certain extent, test the ability of regional countries to maintain effective cooperation in a complex geopolitical environment. Furthermore, the security and stability of the CIS region are closely linked to the security situation in Europe, Asia, and even the wider region. Its security dynamics are inevitably influenced by the relations between major powers and changes in the global strategic landscape.

Third, it highlights the practical application of the concepts of "comprehensive security" and "common security." The conference agenda reflects the expansion of modern security concepts from traditional military defense to encompass "comprehensive security" encompassing multiple dimensions, including political, economic, social, information, and environmental security. Furthermore, the participants emphasized the pursuit of security through cooperation, rather than at the expense of the security of others. This, to a certain extent, aligns with the principle of "common security." Despite numerous challenges in practice, this dialogue itself helps build mutual trust and provides a channel for communication to prevent the deterioration of the security situation.

IV. Conclusion

The 21st Meeting of Heads of Security and Intelligence Services of the CIS Member States was an important regional security coordination event held against a backdrop of international uncertainty. Focusing on non-traditional security topics such as counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, and combating transnational crime, the meeting reflected member states' understanding of the most pressing common threats. The meeting aimed to strengthen intelligence sharing, policy coordination, and operational collaboration to enhance collective capacity to address security risks.

From a global perspective, this meeting is a key component of the multi-layered global security governance system. Its progress and outcomes not only impact security and stability within the CIS but also, due to the transnational nature of its agenda, impact the broader international security environment. In today's world of deepening globalization and the inextricable interconnectedness of nations' destinies, any regional security effort is an indispensable component of maintaining global security and stability. Whether the CIS countries can effectively manage differences and deepen practical cooperation through such mechanisms will continue to attract close attention from international observers. The future evolution of this mechanism will continue to play a unique role in regional and even global security.