UNRCCA (Central Asia)
Expected Council Action
In February, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), Kaha Imnadze, is expected to brief Security Council members on the UNRCCA’s work in closed consultations.
Key Recent Developments
Imnadze last briefed Council members in closed consultations on 23 July 2024. Among other matters, he provided an update on the UNRCCA’s activities pertaining to counter-terrorism, water management, and the women, peace, and security and youth, peace and security agendas. Imnadze also covered the border negotiations between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the situation in Afghanistan and its impact on Central Asia, including the construction of the Qosh Tepa canal, and the role played by civil society in the region.
Since Imnadze’s last briefing, officials from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have completed negotiations on delimiting their border. On 4 December 2024, the governments of both countries announced that they had “reached an agreement and fully completed the drawing of the remaining sections of the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border” and given instructions “to begin the process of drawing up the final documents”. The announcement came after months of negotiations and several bouts of violence between the two countries, including clashes in September 2022 in which dozens of civilians were killed and thousands more were displaced.
Member states have continued to jostle for influence in Central Asia. In early July 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping travelled to the region for a five-day tour that included state visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan and the annual meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). During the visit to Tajikistan, Xi and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon signed a joint statement announcing the establishment of a “comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership” between China and Tajikistan. Chinese officials also attended the 27 December 2024 commencement ceremony for a railway project that will connect China to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, which is set to begin construction in July.
On 27 September 2024, then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with foreign ministers and representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan under the auspices of the “C5+1 diplomatic platform”. In a statement issued after the meeting, the US Embassy in Kazakhstan noted that the participants discussed “steps toward enhanced regional security cooperation in pursuance of a shared vision for a peaceful Central Asia” and said that Blinken had underscored the importance of upholding the UN Charter, including with respect to human rights.
On 27 November 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled to Kazakhstan, where he attended a Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) summit and met with Kazakh President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev. According to media reports, Putin and Toqayev discussed boosting energy and industry ties. On 22 January, the Russian defence ministry announced that Russia and Uzbekistan had signed a strategic military partnership programme for the period spanning 2026 to 2030.
On 5 June 2024, the 11th round of the annual High-Level Political and Security Dialogue between the European Union and the countries of Central Asia was held in Brussels. Among other matters, participants discussed regional cooperation on several key issues, including counter-terrorism and violent extremism, drug trafficking, border management, and cyber security.
In early August 2024, then-Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was scheduled to travel to Astana to attend the inaugural “Central Asia plus Japan” summit, where he was reportedly expected to unveil a $2 billion economic investment package; however, Kishida’s visit was cancelled after an earthquake struck western Japan the day before the summit was scheduled to begin.
Several Central Asian states have pursued closer relations with the Taliban administration in Afghanistan in recent months. On 17 August 2024, Taliban officials announced the finalisation of trade and investment agreements worth $2.5 billion with Uzbekistan when Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov visited Kabul. On 10 October, Uzbekistan accepted the credentials of a Taliban-appointed ambassador, becoming the third country to do so after China and the United Arab Emirates. Taliban officials have reportedly agreed on a “cooperation roadmap” with Kazakhstan aimed at boosting economic relations and increasing trade, while Turkmenistan has invested over $1.5 billion in joint projects in Afghanistan. Work on a long-delayed gas pipeline connecting Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan also began in September 2024.
In late June and early July 2024, Secretary-General António Guterres travelled to Central Asia, visiting Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and UNRCCA’s headquarters in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
From 10 to 12 September 2024, the UNRCCA, the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, and the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions organised a regional conference on the Counter-Terrorism Early Warning Network for Central Asia with support from the UN Peace and Development Trust Fund and the governments of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
On 3 to 4 October 2024, Imnadze participated in a regional conference dedicated to the global Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda in Central Asia and Afghanistan. Imnadze’s remarks emphasised the importance of the Pact for the Future and highlighted its role in driving implementation of the WPS agenda at the regional level. He also stressed the significance of positive regional dynamics in promoting gender equality and overcoming barriers to the meaningful participation of women in peacebuilding, climate action, and other areas.
From 29 to 30 October 2024, the UNRCCA organised an “Expert Meeting on Water, Energy, Environment, and Climate Cooperation in Central Asia”. Participants in the meeting discussed recent developments in water, energy, environment, and climate collaboration in Central Asia and strategic priorities for the future.
Key Issues and Options
One of the main issues for the Council is determining how to make the best use of the UNRCCA’s expertise and deciding whether there is anything the Council can do to support its efforts to facilitate preventive diplomacy and regional cooperation. The Council could choose to hold an open briefing on the UNRCCA, which would allow members to express support for its work and raise awareness of its activities. This open briefing could be followed by closed consultations to allow for a more frank and detailed exchange with Imnadze. The Council could also choose to hold a debate to give the Central Asian states an opportunity to discuss the work of the UNRCCA in public.
The situation in Afghanistan and its impact on Central Asia is another issue for the Council. The Council could consider inviting a representative of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to participate in the meeting and provide information regarding developments in the country that might affect the wider region.
Council Dynamics
Council members are generally supportive of the UNRCCA and view it as an important tool in promoting cooperation in Central Asia. Prior to mid-2018, Council members often issued press statements expressing support for the UNRCCA and its work and encouraging increased cooperation and coordination among the Central Asian countries, the UNRCCA, and “relevant regional organisations”. However, Council members have been unable to agree on a press statement on the UNRCCA since this time, owing to disagreements among the permanent members about including references to specific regional organisations, including the Commonwealth of Independent States, the CSTO, and the SCO.
Press elements commending then-Special Representative and Head of the UNRCCA Natalia Gherman for her efforts and expressing support for UNRCCA’s work were read out following the UNRCCA consultations in January 2023.
UN DOCUMENTS ON UNRCCA
Security Council Letter | |
7 May 2007S/2007/279 | This was a letter from the Secretary-General on the establishment of a United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Ashgabat. |
Security Council Press Statement | |
25 January 2018SC/13179 | This was a press statement welcoming further cooperation and coordination between UNRCCA, the Central Asian States, and relevant regional organisations, including those organisations of which the Central Asian States are members. |