Samarkand Statement: What Did the First Summit Between the European Union and Central Asian Countries Reveal?

The first summit between the European Union and Central Asian countries concluded in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on April 4, 2025. It was attended by leaders of the region and EU officials under the slogan “Investing in the Future.” At the conclusion of the summit, the “Samarkand Statement” was adopted, elevating the relations between both sides to a strategic partnership level. It announced a €12 billion investment from Europe in the region, focusing on sectors such as transportation, climate, the digital sector, and raw materials. The final statement of the summit emphasized the EU’s support for stability and security in Central Asia, reinforcing the EU’s role as a key player in the region amid growing regional and international competition.

Strategic Outcomes

European interest in Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan) began two decades ago, with the appointment of a special representative for the region in 2005. Subsequently, two cooperation strategies were issued in 2007 and 2019 to enhance collaboration with the region in sustainable development and human rights. The Russian military intervention in Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022, has served as a significant impetus for refocusing European attention on Central Asia due to its importance to Moscow and to enhance European security.

Given the summit’s significance, thorough preparations were made in advance. In March 2025, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, “Kaja Kallas,” toured the region to discuss summit preparations, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between European countries and Central Asia.

This occurred amid regional and international changes tied to former U.S. President “Donald Trump’s” stance on the Russian-Ukrainian war, his position in NATO, and his economic policies, which would impact both Central Asia and the EU as they work to solidify their economic partnership to face these challenges. Participants included European Council President “Antonio Costa,” European Commission President “Ursula von der Leyen,” and senior executives from international financial institutions affiliated with the EU. The summit was opened and chaired by Uzbekistan’s President “Shavkat Mirziyoyev,” with attendance from the presidents of Kazakhstan (“Kassym-Jomart Tokayev”), Kyrgyzstan (“Sadyr Japarov”), Tajikistan (“Emomali Rahmon”), and Turkmenistan (“Serdar Berdymukhammedov”), highlighting these leaders’ commitment to strengthening mutual cooperation in various fields. Overall, the summit concluded with several key outcomes:

Establishment of a Strategic Partnership Between the Parties: “Von der Leyen” described the summit as “historic and a new beginning for a solid friendship with Central Asia.” She announced the initiation of a “new strategic partnership” with the region’s countries and the deployment of a €12 billion investment package under the EU’s “Global Corridor” strategy to enhance cooperation with Central Asian nations. The conclusion of the summit saw the issuance of the “Samarkand Declaration,” reaffirming the commitment to deepen cooperation in the changing global and regional geopolitical environment and enhance trade and investment cooperation to transform Central Asia into a unified and dynamic region that promotes mutual integration and elevates relations between the two regions. This new partnership will strengthen European presence and influence in the area against international and regional competition from Russia, China, and Turkey.

Doubling European Investments in the Region: The EU is the second-largest trading partner for Central Asian countries and the largest investor, accounting for 40% of total foreign investment in the region. President “Mirziyoyev” stated that trade between Central Asian countries and the EU increased over the past seven years, reaching €54 billion, while trade between Uzbekistan and the EU amounted to €6.4 billion in 2024. There are over 1,000 joint European enterprises operating in Uzbekistan.

In turn, President Tokayev explained that the European Union has invested over $200 billion in Kazakhstan over the past two decades, while the country’s exports to the EU have increased by more than $2 billion annually. President Japarov noted that trade between Kyrgyzstan and the EU has more than doubled—growing 2.4 times—over the past four years. Meanwhile, President Rahmon confirmed that the EU has implemented 184 projects in Tajikistan, with total funding exceeding $1 billion.

The summit witnessed the signing of several agreements between the parties, including an agreement to open the regional office of the European Investment Bank in Uzbekistan’s capital (Tashkent), which will work to expand economic cooperation and attract investments to the region. A memorandum of understanding was also signed between Tajikistan and the European Investment Bank to develop its transportation sector, and investments are expected to double following new European investments in EU member states.

Expanding Future Cooperation Fields: In his speech at the summit, “Mirziyoyev” called for initiating future cooperation between Central Asia and the EU in several fields, including political dialogues, legal frameworks for cooperation, economy and technological modernization, environmental stability, and educational and cultural fields. He proposed establishing a Central Asia-EU parliamentary forum to enhance parliamentary relations between the two regions. “Rahmon” called for enhancing the implementation of priority projects under the “Green Agenda,” satellite communications projects, and emphasized the importance of cooperation in artificial intelligence. He invited the EU to participate in the “Glacier Conservation Conference” to be held this year in Tajikistan’s capital, Dushanbe. He affirmed that enhancing economic and trade relations between Central Asia and the EU will positively impact stability and growth in the region, while “Tokayev” proposed creating a regional research center for rare earth minerals in Astana.

Cooperation in Clean Energy: “Tokayev” called for special attention to the energy sector, particularly as Kazakhstan supplies 13% of the EU’s total oil imports. The country is currently working to increase its capacity in clean energy sectors, including wind and solar energy, and has initiated a project to produce “green hydrogen” in collaboration with European companies such as Total, Eni, and Svevind. “Mirziyoyev” clarified that the Kambar-Ata-1 hydropower station project in Uzbekistan is an important collaboration with the EU. “Rahmon” urged the attraction of European investments and technology to implement the “Roghun” hydropower station project and rehabilitate the “Nurek” station to enhance the extraction of clean energy or “green energy.” The EU is keen to boost its investment in renewable and clean energy sectors to achieve its goal of climate neutrality by 2050 and enhance its independence in strategic energy sectors.

Emphasis on Expanding Joint Security Cooperation: “Costa” stated during the summit that “security threats have become transnational,” calling for enhanced cooperation at bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels. He stressed the necessity for cooperation between the EU and Central Asian states in areas such as cybersecurity against hybrid threats, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, preventing and combating extremism and terrorism, enhancing border security, and preventing drug trafficking and human trafficking. Meanwhile, Central Asian leaders urged the EU to pay attention to the situation in Afghanistan, as it represents a security threat to the region and the EU, especially with the presence of several terrorist organizations there amid fears of their infiltration into regional states and execution of terrorist operations. They affirmed that stabilizing and rebuilding Afghanistan is part of the national security of both Central Asia and the EU. “Tokayev” welcomed the start of negotiations between Moscow and Washington regarding the cessation of the Ukrainian war, as it will contribute to establishing global peace.

Attention to Climate Changes: Following the conclusion of their joint summit, EU and Central Asian leaders attended the “Samarkand Climate Forum,” dedicated to discussing ways to combat environmental challenges and enhance international cooperation to address climate change. “Mirziyoyev” confirmed that “climate change is a common challenge for Central Asia, where drought, glacial melt, and water scarcity are prevalent, and Europe is “suffering from extreme heat, wildfires, and changes in ecosystems”; thus, collaborative efforts are essential to address these shifts. He affirmed that addressing climate change would contribute to energy security and food security for both Central Asia and Europe.

Geopolitical Implications

The EU-Central Asia summit carried several key implications, summarized as follows:

Emphasizing the Geostrategic Importance of Central Asia: Central Asian countries hold special significance for the EU due to their strategic location on the borders of Russia and China in Central Asia, linking them to factors determining future European security. They also possess vast reserves of oil, natural gas, natural resources, and rare minerals, alongside the rising international competition for influence in the region.

EU Support for Stability in Central Asia: Over the past two decades, the EU has focused on economic cooperation with Central Asia. However, the Samarkand Summit has heralded European support for establishing stability and security in Central Asia, which is crucial for enhancing future cooperation between both parties. The final statement of the summit indicated “the EU’s commitment to cooperation for peace, security, and democracy, full respect for international law, the UN Charter, and fundamental principles respecting the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of all nations.”

The EU welcomed the “Khojand Declaration” between Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan to delineate their borders, contributing to peace and stability and fostering cooperation in Central Asia. They affirmed the commitment of all states to refrain from threatening or using force in their international relations, referencing the Russian aggression against Ukraine; Central Asian states maintained a neutral stance, condemning the aggression while refusing to impose sanctions on Russia to preserve their economic ties with Moscow. The current European interest in Central Asia’s security may position the EU as a “security alternative” to Russia, allowing it to play a potential future role in safeguarding the security and sovereignty of these nations against any external interventions, thus enhancing European influence in the region.

Rising US-EU Competition for Rare Minerals in Central Asia: The EU plans to establish local value chains for vital and rare minerals in Central Asia; Kazakhstan produces 19 out of the 34 raw materials essential for the EU economy, including uranium, titanium, copper, lithium, cobalt, and tungsten. This will strengthen the autonomy of European industries and foster competition with Washington, especially after Trump’s announcement about wanting to dominate rare minerals globally and initiating negotiations with Ukraine for that purpose.

“Von der Leyen” stated that these raw materials are a lifeline for the future global economy and represent a “treasure for global actors.” She emphasized that the EU will strive to build partnerships to develop local industries in Central Asia related to rare minerals, rather than merely extracting and exploiting them. This strategy forms part of the EU’s overarching goal to diversify its trade partners and enhance cooperation to counter the protectionist measures imposed by Trump on countries worldwide. Central Asian states seek to diversify their partners and attract foreign investments, steering clear of Russian, American, and Chinese polarization, which will further bolster cooperation between the EU and Central Asia for mutual benefit.

Desire for EU Participation in Regional Corridor Projects: “Von der Leyen” affirmed that Central Asia’s strategic location could open global trade routes and investment flows. She noted that “opening the borders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey would make Europe and Central Asia closer through the Caspian Corridor,” expressing the Europeans’ desire to partner in those corridors to establish Central Asia as a “bridge” between Asia and Europe.

It is noteworthy that several regional corridors exist in the area for transporting energy resources and goods from its landlocked states to Europe, including the “Middle Corridor” and “Southern Corridor.” However, this will heighten competition with other regional projects aimed at establishing these corridors, notably from Turkey and Azerbaijan, as the 11th meeting of the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council coincided with the summit. During this meeting, Azerbaijan’s President “Ilham Aliyev” remarked on April 4, 2025, that “his country, by supplying gas to Europe, is a reliable partner for the continent in the energy sector, as Baku currently sells gas to ten European countries.”

Intensifying International Competition in Central Asia: The EU has successfully established itself as a principal economic and political actor in Central Asia, and this role may evolve into a future security role given the outcomes of Russian-American negotiations to end the Ukrainian war. Brussels has proposed sending European “peacekeeping” forces to Kyiv, which could lead to security cooperation between the EU and Central Asia to achieve this, escalating competition between Russia and the EU in the region. Russia maintains military bases in Central Asia, and the latter fears a repeat of the Ukrainian scenario. Simultaneously, European economic projects will face fierce competition from China, the region’s primary trading partner and investor, as well as Turkey, which has a strategic alliance with Central Asia, making the region a battleground for regional and international competition affecting the internal stability of its states.

In conclusion, the EU has launched its role as a key player and strategic partner for Central Asia through the “Samarkand” summit, while Central Asian countries are working to enhance internal regional integration to amplify their international weight. The EU may become the primary actor in the region amidst American and Chinese preoccupations with their trade wars and Russia’s focus on ending the Ukrainian conflict, providing the EU with a golden opportunity to obtain natural and rare resources from Central Asia through implementing regional transport corridors. This will achieve European economic independence and enhance its regional and international role.