Central Asia Welcomes EU Leadership to Samarkand Summit

By John W. Parks

Leaders from the European Union and the Central Asian states have gathered for the inaugural EU-Central Asia Summit. The summit, held in Samarkand on April 3-4, 2025, was designed to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between the regions. This landmark event has produced developments for both parties that will certainly provide exponential growth within a changing global trading environment.

Representing the EU were European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Kazakh President Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Japarov, Tajik President Rahmon, and Turkmen President Berdimuhamedov also attended the summit hosted by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. In his inaugural address, President Mirziyoyev spoke to the strengthening of economic ties with Europe, highlighting further development of the Trans-Caspian Trade Corridor and alignment with the EU’s Global Gateway economic plan. Security, climate change, energy, and historical relations were also highlighted throughout the summit.Representing the EU were European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Kazakh President Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Japarov, Tajik President Rahmon, and Turkmen President Berdimuhamedov also attended the summit hosted by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. In his inaugural address, President Mirziyoyev spoke to the strengthening of economic ties with Europe, highlighting further development of the Trans-Caspian Trade Corridor and alignment with the EU’s Global Gateway economic plan. Security, climate change, energy, and historical relations were also highlighted throughout the summit.

The summit’s successes are already being realized. The Samarkand Declaration, presented by the EU during the summit, is a signed commitment to the economic and security ties between the regions. Trade between the EU and Uzbekistan now exceeds €6 billion; European trade with the Central Asian region as a whole exceeds €54 billion. European investment projects in Uzbekistan are valued at €30 billion. The European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) seek to expand investment further as part of the Samarkand Declaration. This economic development is a result of the EU’s Global Gateway, the European version of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which hinges its success on strong ties with Central Asia.

The EU-Central Asia Summit stands against a background of a rapidly changing global order. The Trump Administration’s policies have accelerated the already cooperative Chinese and European economies to seek alternatives beyond the United States for economic partnership. Europe’s Global Gateway and China’s Belt and Road Initiative seem to reach ever closer toward each other, growing Central Asia’s value and wealth as a result. Some international relations experts find the initiatives to be predatory. Tair Nigmanov claims Central Asia is caught in a geopolitical rivalry, saying, “(Europe) wants Central Asia to remain neutral and not gravitate toward any single power center.” However, Central Asian leaders remain optimistic about their futures. The EU-Central Asian summit signals a future of economic and diplomatic success for Central Asia.