Professor Azamat Seitov gave his comments to Gazeta.uz ahead of the summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Dushanbe. His assessment focuses on the current role of the CIS three decades after its founding and possible trajectories for the union's development.
According to the expert, the question of the “meaning of existence” of the CIS reflects a deeper problem: in recent years, the actual activity of the platform has declined, and some of the interactions have moved to other formats, in particular the SCO. The institutional “density” of decisions in the CIS has also decreased – summit documents are mainly advisory in nature, which limits the potential of the multilateral agenda.
At the same time, Seitov emphasizes that the CIS remains a sought-after platform for dialogue for a number of post-Soviet states, especially against the backdrop of increased international turbulence. In his opinion, the purpose of the organization is no longer to restore former ties, but to build a practice-oriented dialogue and launch specific regional initiatives. These include projects aimed at strengthening transport and logistics links, diversifying markets, expanding cultural and humanitarian exchanges, and increasing resilience to contemporary challenges.
The key thesis of the commentary is the need for the CIS to occupy a “new niche” by focusing on areas with the greatest potential for synergy. As an instrumental solution, the expert proposes a transition to “modular programs,” within which countries will be able to selectively join projects that correspond to their national interests and resource capabilities. According to Prof. Seitov, this approach will preserve the flexibility of the structure and increase the effectiveness of cooperation.
Particular emphasis is placed on the interests of Uzbekistan, which today are largely economic in nature. Through the mechanisms of the CIS, it is possible to promote initiatives on digital interaction, harmonization of standards, joint applied projects, and the exchange of best management practices. Provided that it is reformatted and focuses on measurable results, the Commonwealth could evolve into a more focused and effective platform for applied regional cooperation in the medium term.
* The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.
