International Focus Shifts to Central Asia at Bled Strategic Forum Debut

Central Asia Takes Centre Stage at Bled Strategic Forum

In a significant development, Central Asia was the focus of attention at the Bled Strategic Forum (BSF) 2025, held in Slovenia on Sept. 1-2. The event, which is a key venue for addressing global challenges, attracted world leaders, politicians, academics, and business innovators.

The panel "The New Centrality of Central Asia" was particularly noteworthy. This panel featured Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the European Union and NATO Roman Vassilenko, EU Special Representative for Central Asia Eduards Stiprais, senior EU officials, and deputy foreign ministers from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Roman Vassilenko stated that Europe is remembering the importance of Central Asia and that the region and Europe can deepen practical cooperation, with the effects felt for many years to come. He presented a vision of Central Asia as a region that is transforming from a passive transit zone into an active and constructive player on the world stage. Vassilenko further emphasised that the center of Eurasia is no longer a passive arena - it is an independent player.

Eduards Stiprais underscored the EU's commitment to deeper cooperation with Central Asia, recalling the updated Central Asia Strategy and highlighting the region's growing importance for diplomacy, security, and sustainable development. He noted the EU-Central Asia Summit in Samarkand earlier this year as a significant event reflecting Central Asia's inclusion as a rising strategic partner.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also emphasised that Central Asia should be viewed as a separate regional actor in international relations, capable of becoming a new center of global gravity. The Kazakh delegation held a series of bilateral meetings during the forum aimed at strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

The five countries in Central Asia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, were noted for speaking with a single, confident, and constructive voice. Central Asia, according to Vassilenko, is evolving from a landlocked region into a hub that connects Eurasia and jointly builds its own future. The panel highlighted the growing importance and strategic significance of Central Asia in strengthening global dialogue and building a more resilient world order.

The 2025 edition of the BSF had a main theme of "A Runaway World," reflecting multiple crises of our time. Despite these challenges, the focus on Central Asia at the forum suggests a growing recognition of its strategic importance and potential for greater cooperation with Europe and the United States. The discussions at the BSF are expected to pave the way for further collaboration and a more integrated Central Asia in the global arena.