President Putin was personally welcomed by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon at Dushanbe Airport before the two leaders held a private meeting and subsequently chaired talks between the two delegations.
Emphasising that Russia and Tajikistan are “reliable allies,” President Putin pledged that Moscow would fulfil its obligations to Dushanbe, including in the field of security.
On economic cooperation, the Russian leader described the results as highly positive, noting that in the first seven months of 2025, bilateral trade between Russia and Tajikistan had risen by more than 17%.
Following the talks, the two leaders signed a joint statement on deepening strategic partnership and alliance relations between their countries, marking a new step forward in relations that have been strengthened and developed over more than 30 years.
Alongside Tajik President E. Rahmon, President Putin also held discussions with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan within the framework of the Russia-Central Asia Summit.
With a wide-ranging agenda covering trade, transport, energy, security, migration and environmental policy, the summit demonstrated Moscow’s determination to create a unified Eurasian bloc.
This effort was made even clearer as Moscow called on Central Asia to further strengthen economic cooperation with Russia, aiming to raise the trade volume, which reached just over 45 billion USD in 2024, describing it as a good result but not enough for the potential of Russia and the region.
Through a joint action plan, the countries affirmed efforts to increase connectivity, reduce trade barriers, improve the business environment, develop international transport corridors, and enhance people-to-people exchanges, counter terrorism and prevent illegal migration.
President Putin’s visit provided Moscow with an additional opportunity to work with these nations on solutions to pressing challenges, including migration. Labour migration from Central Asia has become more sensitive following the tragic terrorist attack at Moscow’s Crocus Expo in March last year, creating significant pressure on Russian perceptions of Central Asian migrants.
For Tajikistan, Moscow’s assurances regarding its labour force are particularly crucial, as the country’s growth relies heavily on remittances from its migrant workers in Russia.
Moreover, the visit also facilitated Russia’s efforts to repair and consolidate relations with Azerbaijan, which were strained following the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane last year. In the context of managing tensions with the West and Ukraine, Moscow is keen to avoid further complications, particularly from neighbouring regions.
Meanwhile, Central Asia, with its strategic location, rich natural resources and growing geoeconomic potential, has attracted considerable attention from multiple parties, including China, the European Union (EU), the United States, and Gulf countries.
Emphasising the principle of multi-vector balance, Central Asia is also pursuing a more proactive foreign policy, diversifying its partnerships and thereby its political, economic and security interests.
With the commitments recently secured with the Central Asian nations, President Putin’s visit sent a clear message of Moscow’s determination to reaffirm its traditional role and influence in a region where these are increasingly being challenged.
