On 16 July, the European Union and the five Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — held their 13th annual High-Level Political and Security Dialogue in Brussels, reaffirming their commitment to deepening strategic ties. The meeting, chaired by EEAS Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs Olof Skoog, focused on global and regional security challenges, including Russia's war against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and Afghanistan. The EU reiterated its support for effective governance, rule of law, and inclusive economic development as foundations for resilience, while both sides stressed the importance of upholding international law and the UN Charter.
The dialogue builds on the Joint Roadmap for Deepening Ties between the EU and Central Asia from October 2023 and the first-ever EU-Central Asia Summit in April 2025. Participants welcomed the growing political momentum and agreed to continue addressing common security challenges through EU programmes on border management, counter-terrorism, combating drug trafficking, and cyber security. Sustainable connectivity, secure transport corridors, energy security, and digital transformation were highlighted as increasingly important for regional resilience and prosperity. The meeting was attended by deputy foreign ministers from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the Kyrgyz ambassador to the EU.