The European Union and the five Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — held their 13th High-Level Political and Security Dialogue in Brussels on 16 July 2026, reaffirming their commitment to deepening strategic ties. The meeting, chaired by EEAS Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs Olof Skoog, brought together deputy foreign ministers from the region to discuss global and regional security challenges, including Russia's war in Ukraine, the Middle East situation, and Afghanistan. The dialogue builds on the Joint Roadmap for Deepening Ties between the EU and Central Asia from October 2023 and the first EU-Central Asia Summit in April 2025. Participants welcomed the growing political momentum and agreed to continue cooperation on border management, counter-terrorism, anti-drug trafficking, and cybersecurity through EU programmes. Sustainable connectivity, secure transport corridors, energy security, and digital transformation were highlighted as increasingly important for regional resilience and prosperity. The EU stressed the importance of upholding international law, UN Charter principles, and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, while emphasising the need for effective governance, rule of law, and inclusive economic development to enhance resilience. The dialogue marks a continued institutional effort to strengthen the EU-Central Asia partnership, with no prior coverage of this specific meeting in the last 180 days.
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