MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday encouraged leaders of five Central Asian nations to expand trade and economic cooperation with Russia, signaling Moscow’s intent to reinforce its influence in a region increasingly courted by China.
Speaking at a summit in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, Putin highlighted that Russia’s trade turnover with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan reached over $45 billion last year, a figure he described as “a good result,” yet still lagging behind Russia’s bilateral trade with Belarus. He stressed that the Central Asian economies offered significant untapped potential for growth.
The five countries, once part of the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991, have become a pivotal area of geopolitical competition. With the Kremlin’s focus fixed on its conflict in Ukraine and Beijing intensifying its outreach through investment and infrastructure projects, Moscow’s traditional influence in the region has diminished.
Despite this, economic and human ties between Russia and Central Asia remain strong. Millions of Central Asian migrant workers continue to support Russia’s labor market, sending substantial remittances back home. However, following an Islamist militant attack near Moscow last year that claimed over 140 lives, reportedly involving suspects from Tajikistan, Russian authorities have begun tightening migration policies.
The summit concluded with a cautious joint statement emphasizing the “importance of strengthening strategic partnership” between Russia and the Central Asian states. The leaders pledged to cooperate in countering terrorism, illegal migration, and drug trafficking, while exploring new transport corridors and improved payment systems to facilitate trade.
The renewed call for deeper engagement appears to be Moscow’s latest move to reaffirm its role as a key partner in a region where China’s economic presence is rapidly expanding.