On April 30, 2026, the Central Asian Security Forum titled “The Security Architecture of Central Asia: Current Challenges, Threats, and Strategic Opportunities” was held in Dushanbe. Representing the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan were Chief Research Fellow Sanat Kushkumbayev and Chief Expert of the International Security Department Mukhit Assanbayev.
The event was organized by the Center for Strategic Research under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan in cooperation with the Regional Office for Central Asia of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Among the invited participants were representatives of strategic research institutes and expert communities from Central Asian countries, international organizations and foundations, as well as members of diplomatic missions accredited in Tajikistan.
The forum featured a plenary session and four thematic panels. Participants discussed intra-regional risks, security challenges and threats, prospects for cooperation aimed at minimizing them, as well as external security factors and possible scenarios for the region’s development. A wide range of issues was addressed, including border security, the threat of extremism, and socio-economic as well as transport and transit dimensions of security, including water, climate, trade, and infrastructure development.
In his speech, Sanat Kushkumbayev focused on intra-regional issues, noting that Central Asia is increasingly becoming a space for consolidation. According to him, this process opens up new strategic opportunities for the countries of the region. In turn, Mukhit Assanbayev highlighted external factors, including the impact of global trends and transregional challenges on the security of Central Asian states.
Summing up the forum, the participants once again reaffirmed the commitment of the Central Asian countries to jointly ensuring peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region.
