Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Akramjon Nematov, First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies (ISRS) under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, made this statement during the VI International Scientific and Practical Conference on "The Impact of Geopolitical and Geo-Economic Changes on Regional Security and Conflict Prevention."

Moderating a panel session, the expert delved into the current geopolitical landscape. He noted, “The world is currently undergoing a profound and multifaceted crisis. The international relations system has entered a period of prolonged uncertainty. We are witnessing a growing deficit of trust and multilateral dialogue, ideological and value-based confrontation, and a diminishing role of global security institutions.”

Nematov continued, pointing out that “the world is once again dividing into political and economic blocs, accompanied by the fragmentation of the global economy and market volatility. This situation is exacerbated by other global challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and issues related to energy, food, and cybersecurity.”

According to the ISRS representative, these factors lead to economic imbalances, increased socio-political tensions, and the rise of both traditional and non-traditional threats. Consequently, protectionist measures are being introduced, established logistical and production chains are being disrupted, and unilateral sanctions are being applied, undermining the foundations of the global economic system.

The expert highlighted that these circumstances are acutely felt in Central Asia, where transportation and logistics services have become more expensive, energy and food prices are rising, and access to technology, investment, and financial resources is becoming more challenging.

“In such complex and dynamically changing conditions, restoring trust, building constructive dialogue, and coordinating joint actions to address contemporary challenges are critically important,” Nematov emphasized.

In this context, the expert outlined several key directions that can serve as critical factors for ensuring security and sustainable development in Central Asia:

1. Strengthening internal resilience in political, economic, and social spheres while simultaneously enhancing defense capabilities.
   
2. Establishing a stable external environment through the consolidation of Central Asia, enhancing its agency and competitiveness, and maintaining openness to mutually beneficial cooperation with various international actors.

3. Close coordination and multilateral collaboration among the countries of the region on various platforms to collectively devise measures for adapting to rapidly changing realities.

4. Promoting a comprehensive multilateral dialogue involving political scientists, scholars, and analysts to unite scientific, expert, and professional potential and identify common ground.

“It is essential to fully leverage the objective advantages at our disposal and utilize internal reserves to transform emerging challenges into new opportunities,” Nematov concluded.

The International Scientific and Practical Conference is held annually by the Academy of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan in collaboration with the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan.

The event gathers leaders of state and non-state institutions in the fields of politics, security, economics, and international cooperation, international experts, representatives of regional and international organizations, and military attachés accredited to foreign embassies in Uzbekistan, with a total of about 80 participants.