Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Tajikistan on Thursday to attend a high-level summit with Central Asian leaders, with regional security and the evolving situation in Afghanistan set to dominate the agenda.
The summit, the second of its kind, will take place in Dushanbe and bring together the presidents of Russia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The meeting aims to strengthen multilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, energy, transportation, and counterterrorism.
Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov said the talks would emphasise economic integration and investment, but also address pressing security concerns linked to Afghanistan and the broader Middle East.
Putin is also scheduled to hold separate talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, focusing on border security and defence coordination. Russia and Tajikistan are discussing upgrades to the Russian 201st Military Base in Tajikistan, Moscow’s largest military installation outside its borders. Talks also include efforts to modernise Tajikistan’s armed forces.
Tensions remain high along the Afghan frontier. Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu recently warned that over 23,000 foreign fighters are now active in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, calling it a grave threat to the region.
The Dushanbe summit comes as Moscow seeks to reinforce its influence in Central Asia amid rising instability in Afghanistan and broader geopolitical shifts. Central Asian states are expected to seek stronger security guarantees and coordinated strategies to counter cross-border militancy.
Several agreements on trade, transport, and defence cooperation are likely to be signed during the summit, signaling a deeper Russian commitment to the region’s stability and resilience.
