Central Asian Intelligence Chiefs Hold First-Ever Security Summit in Tashkent: Toward a New Regional Security Architecture
Introduction
On April 24, 2025, the heads of intelligence and security agencies from all five Central Asian states-Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan-convened in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, for an unprecedented summit. This historic gathering marked a significant milestone in the evolution of regional security cooperation, as the region’s governments seek new strategies to address terrorism, extremism, transnational crime, and cyber threats. The summit’s timing is notable: Central Asia is in the midst of profound geopolitical change, with Russia’s traditional role as security guarantor challenged by its war in Ukraine, China’s rising influence, and persistent instability in neighboring Afghanistan. The Tashkent meeting signals a new phase of regional autonomy, ambition, and strategic recalibration.
