Fifth Consultative Meeting of The Heads of Central Asian States: Formation of Regional Security

The Fifth Anniversary Consultative Meeting of the Heads of Central Asian States held in Dushanbe on September 14 confirmed the firm political will of the leaders of the countries of the region to comprehensively expand and deepen multilateral interstate cooperation.

An important role in the conditions of increasing geopolitical turbulence was given to discussions on cooperation in ensuring peace, stability and strengthening cooperation in the field of regional security.
In this regard, the President of Uzbekistan Sh.M. Mirziyoyev emphasized that the region urgently needs "a confidential exchange of views to develop collective solutions to prevent and counter common challenges and threats."
To this end, the leader of Uzbekistan proposed an initiative to form a regional system of forecasting, prevention, early warning and joint response to emergencies. 
The need to implement this system is also justified by the data of the Center for Disaster Epidemiology Research (CRED). Thus, from 1999 to 2022, 184 natural disasters occurred in Central Asia, with the main share of damage occurring in Tajikistan (71.4%), Kazakhstan (10.2%) and Uzbekistan (5%).
The creation of a Regional System will enhance joint efforts to develop and deepen regional cooperation in disaster risk reduction, as well as improving preparedness to respond to emergencies, especially of a cross-border nature. 
This initiative also provides for improving the exchange of information, joint assessment of risk factors and the implementation of programs and projects to minimize damage from disasters and adapt to climate change, which contributes to more rapid responses to emergencies. 
Such steps demonstrate the understanding of the heads of State of Central Asia of the need to move to a new, higher-quality level of regional cooperation in the field of security, which meets the strategic and regional interests of each country.
In general, the Fifth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of Central Asian States demonstrated the readiness of the countries of the region to deepen cooperation in various fields, including security and risk management. This indicates the desire of the Central Asian countries for closer cooperation, which will help them successfully cope with the challenges of the future and ensure the well-being of their citizens.

Ilkhom Abdukarimov,
Leading Specialist 
International Institute of Central Asia