Dushanbe CIS Summit: A New Chapter in Regional Cooperation and Security Architecture

Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, has once again become a crucial platform for countries in the post-Soviet space to coordinate their positions and address challenges.

In October, Dushanbe was bathed in crisp autumn air. Motorcades of CIS leaders shuttled through the mountainous city. Within modern buildings like the Presidential Palace and the Parliament Building, dialogues on the region's future unfolded.

The CIS Council of Heads of State meeting was held concurrently with the Second Central Asia-Russia Summit, during which Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a state visit to Tajikistan. The leaders will discuss economic and trade cooperation, security mechanisms, and other topics. They are also expected to adopt decisions on establishing the "CIS+" mechanism and granting observer status to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

01 Summit Background: Common Challenges and the Reshaping of Multilateral Mechanisms

The CIS Council of Heads of State meeting hosted by Dushanbe is one of the most important multilateral diplomatic events in the post-Soviet space in 2025. According to a Kremlin announcement, the meeting will examine practical cooperation within the CIS framework, identify key future directions, and discuss international and regional hotspots.

Geopolitical changes are a key factor driving closer coordination among CIS countries. The ongoing instability in Afghanistan, coupled with escalating tensions in the Middle East, poses a direct challenge to the security of the CIS's southern border. Russian Security Council Secretary Rushaylo previously emphasized the need for CIS countries to jointly address regional developments following the US and its allies' military operations in Afghanistan.

The CIS, established over 30 years ago, currently has nine full member states: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. The organization has long been an important platform for dialogue and policy coordination among former Soviet states.

However, the CIS also faces internal challenges. In recent years, Ukraine has gradually withdrawn from various CIS decisions. There has been a discrepancy between the number of documents signed at previous summits and their actual implementation. For example, the 2011 Dushanbe Summit coincided with the 20th anniversary of the CIS, yet analysts at the time noted that of the thousands of documents signed, less than 10% had actually been implemented.

02 Security Cooperation: The Urgent Issues of Counter-terrorism and Border Security

The security agenda of this Dushanbe Summit was particularly prominent. The meeting planned to adopt a series of important documents on strengthening border security cooperation, combating terrorism and extremism, and promoting military cooperation. Security cooperation has always been one of the most substantive areas of collaboration among CIS countries.

The Russian delegation included Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian National Guard, General Viktor Zolotov, and Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, among other key government officials. This lineup underscored the importance of security issues at this summit.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance within this framework, plays a key role in maintaining regional security. The organization's member states include Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Armenia.

In 2022, the CSTO dispatched peacekeeping troops to Kazakhstan at the request of Kazakhstan. This was the first time the organization had deployed peacekeeping troops to a member state since its establishment, demonstrating its rapid response capabilities.

The situation in Afghanistan was a focal point of the security discussions. As a country bordering Afghanistan, Tajikistan faces direct pressure from the spread of extremist forces. Tajik security expert Zhalilov noted that "Russia needs to cooperate with Tajikistan in implementing its Afghan policy because, with trade routes to the West closed, new security routes to the south hold strategic significance."

03 Economic Integration: Trade Facilitation and Energy Cooperation

Economic cooperation was another key agenda item at the Dushanbe Summit. According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russia and Tajikistan have long worked together to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as energy, agriculture, and transportation.

After talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Putin stated that trade between Russia and Central Asian countries exceeded $45 billion in 2024, demonstrating broad prospects for economic development between the two countries. He pledged that Russia will continue to strengthen its strategic partnership and alliance with Central Asian countries and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in the political, economic, and cultural spheres.

In 2021, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries signed an agreement establishing a free trade zone, including a series of measures to eliminate trade barriers and facilitate the resolution of trade disputes. However, the process of economic integration faces challenges. The varying levels of economic development and political orientations among member states make it difficult to advance integration plans.

Energy cooperation was a key topic of Putin's visit. Russian companies have expressed interest in building nuclear power plants in Asia, while Tajikistan hopes to address its energy shortages. These complementary needs provide impetus for cooperation between the two sides.

Kazakh political scientist Tazhibayev believes that the "Central Asia-Russia" cooperation model has the potential to serve not only as a platform for transmitting political signals but also as a tool for expediting infrastructure development and standardizing decision-making in various sectors. The turmoil caused by Western sanctions has accelerated the reorientation of Russia's trade and technology chains. Central Asia has become the closest platform for Russia to engage in industrial cooperation, bypass logistical bottlenecks, and access markets.

04 Institutional Innovation: "CIS Plus" and SCO Observer Status

One of the key outcomes of the Dushanbe Summit is institutional innovation. The meeting plans to approve the decision to establish the "CIS Plus" mechanism and grant observer status to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. This institutional adjustment may have a profound impact on the future development of the CIS.

The "CIS Plus" model reflects the organization's efforts to adapt to the new international environment. By establishing a more open network of partners, the CIS can engage in more flexible cooperation with other regional organizations and countries. This approach, similar to the dialogue partnership mechanisms established by other international organizations, will help break the CIS's relatively closed image.

The granting of observer status to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is also a noteworthy development. SCO member states include China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and several Central Asian countries, overlapping with CIS member states. This arrangement will facilitate coordination between the two regional organizations and help them jointly address common challenges such as terrorism, extremism, and drug trafficking.

Tajikistan's Avesta News Agency commented that "despite external challenges and diverging national priorities, the potential for cooperation among CIS countries continues to grow, with new forms emerging, such as large-scale investment projects, industrial cooperation, and deepening integration in transportation, energy, and the digital economy." These institutional innovations are a reflection of this growing potential.

05 The CIS in a Global Perspective: Diversified Balance and Pragmatic Cooperation

From a global perspective, the Dushanbe Summit reflects new trends in regional cooperation amidst a changing international landscape. Against the backdrop of comprehensive Western sanctions against Russia, trade ties between Russia and Central Asian countries have become even more important.

The Washington Post reported that "Russia's trade and other ties with Tajikistan and other Central Asian countries are becoming increasingly important amidst the West's imposition of comprehensive sanctions on Russia over the Russo-Ukrainian conflict." This trend makes the CIS platform even more strategically valuable to Russia.

At the same time, CIS countries generally pursue a diversified and balanced foreign policy. Member states such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, while maintaining cooperation with Russia, are also developing relations with China, the EU, and the Islamic world. This multifaceted diplomacy has made the CIS an important platform for coordinating positions among countries, rather than an exclusive political bloc.

Pritchin, an expert at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted, "Tajikistan is an important economic partner of Russia and operates in sync with Russia on the international stage. Putin's attendance at the CIS Council of Heads of State meeting demonstrates Russia's willingness to maintain communication with its Central Asian partners on multiple platforms, including the CIS."

The outcomes of the Dushanbe Summit will be gradually implemented. The 17 cooperation documents planned for adoption at the CIS Council of Heads of State meeting and the goal of exceeding $45 billion in trade between Russia and Central Asian countries will inject new impetus into regional cooperation.

The name of the city of Dushanbe means "Monday," and just like the fresh start of each Monday, regional cooperation between Central Asia and Russia continues to usher in new opportunities.