An annual analytical report of the Center for Strategic Connectivity at the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) provides a comprehensive, policy-oriented assessment of Central Asia’s evolving role as a key transit and connectivity hub linking East and West, North and South. Drawing on analytical articles, research papers, and policy briefs produced by the Center throughout 2025, the report examines the transformation of Central Asia into a more unified transport space, the development of major international corridors, and the region’s growing importance amid global supply chain reconfiguration. It pays particular attention to strategic projects such as the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, the Trans-Caspian (Middle Corridor) route, Trans-Afghan transport corridors, and expanding connectivity toward Iran, the South Caucasus, Turkiye, and global markets. The report combines geopolitical analysis with economic and infrastructural perspectives, highlighting both cooperation and competition among Central Asian states, existing bottlenecks in transport integration, and the need for greater coordination in tariffs, digitalization, and regulatory frameworks. Moving beyond strategic visions, it focuses on practical implementation pathways, offering insights relevant to policymakers, transport planners, investors, diplomats, and researchers engaged in Eurasian connectivity and regional integration processes. * 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.

This annual analytical report of the Center for Economic Diplomacy at the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) provides a comprehensive assessment of Uzbekistan’s external economic environment and internal transformation agenda amid accelerating global fragmentation, geopolitical uncertainty, and technological change. Structured around four interlinked pillars – regional and bilateral trade cooperation, global economic governance and financial architecture, digital and innovation-driven cooperation, and long-term socio-economic transformation, the report analyses Uzbekistan’s positioning within key economic spaces, including ECO, China–Central Asia relations, BRICS frameworks, the Organization of Turkic States, and cooperation with the European Union. Particular attention is devoted to export diversification, WTO accession, alternative financial mechanisms, digitalization, and poverty reduction strategies. Combining quantitative data with institutional and policy analysis, the report is designed for policymakers, economic planners, diplomats, and researchers seeking a strategic understanding of how Uzbekistan can enhance resilience, preserve economic sovereignty, and secure sustainable growth through diversified integration into regional and global markets. * 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.

The annual analytical report of the Center for European Studies at the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) offers a comprehensive, policy-oriented assessment of the Europe’s evolving strategic environment amid intensifying geopolitical competition, internal transformation, and growing uncertainty in transatlantic relations. Bringing together analytical materials and briefs by IAIS researchers, the report examines the EU’s economic outlook, defence adaptation and frameworks, institutional and social challenges, debates on identity and human rights, and the reconfiguration of Europe’s relations with the United States, NATO, China, and Central Asia. Particular attention is devoted to the impact of the war in Ukraine, shifts in U.S. foreign policy, and the EU’s search for strategic autonomy in security, technology, and global governance. Positioned at the intersection of academic research and policy analysis, the report is intended for policymakers, diplomats, researchers, and practitioners seeking a structured and evidence-based understanding of Europe’s current trajectory and the strategic choices shaping its future. * 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.

Strategic Research of the Asia-Pacific Region in 2025 is the annual publication of the Asia-Pacific Studies Department of the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS). The report presents a selection of research-based assessments addressing the most relevant political, economic, and security developments across the Asia-Pacific region during 2025. The volume focuses on strategic shifts driven by major-power competition, changes in the regional economic landscape, and the growing link between security, technology, and development priorities. The report also evaluates how these trends shape the external environment for Central Asia and Uzbekistan, particularly in the context of diversification, connectivity, and risk management in an increasingly interdependent international system. Designed as a reference resource for decision-makers and experts, the report contributes to informed discussion by offering analytical insights grounded in empirical observation and comparative analysis. * 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.

The annual report Afghanistan: Contemporary Developments & Alternative Perspectives (2025 edition), produced by the Center for Afghanistan and South Asian Studies at the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS), offers a policy-relevant overview of Afghanistan’s ongoing transformation and its implications for regional stability and cooperation. Drawing on analytical chapters and expert commentaries prepared by IAIS researchers and external contributors, the publication highlights the key dynamics shaping Afghanistan. It addresses security developments, political shifts, economic management under international constraints, cross-border trade and infrastructure initiatives, water-related challenges, as well as social issues including education and women’s rights. The report also underscores Afghanistan’s emerging function as a bridge between Central and South Asia, while examining how neighboring states adjust their approaches — including Uzbekistan’s engagement agenda, connectivity priorities, and the risks associated with long-term uncertainty. Prepared at the intersection of academic research and applied analysis, the report is designed for policymakers, diplomats, analysts, and practitioners seeking a structured and evidence-based perspective on Afghanistan’s current trajectory and possible future scenarios. * 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.

This joint report by Hamza Boltaev and Nargiza Umarova co-authored with Mukhit Assanbayev (Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan) argues that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan pursue a pragmatic, security-first engagement with Afghanistan rooted in dialogue, humanitarian support, and connectivity. Framed as “new horizons of interaction”, the authors contend that Astana and Tashkent see Afghanistan less as a threat than as a land bridge linking Central and South Asia, and therefore prioritize bilateral channels that move faster than complex multilateral formats while still seeking UN-aligned international legitimacy.   A second pillar of the study evaluates southern transit routes designed to rebalance Eurasian freight flows. It highlights the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway (with onward links to Iran and the Caspian) and two competing Trans-Afghan rail concepts: Uzbekistan’s Kabul corridor (Termez–Kharlachi) and the western branch backed by Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan (Torgundi–Herat–Kandahar). The authors note potential synergies with the Middle (Trans-Caspian) Corridor and Lapis Lazuli route, but also underline strategic trade-offs – route choices will shape tariff competition, market access to the EU, Türkiye and South Asia, and the distribution of future transit revenues across the region.   The report devotes a full section to Afghanistan’s Qosh-Tepa canal, presenting it as both a domestic state-building project and a transboundary risk. It traces the thin legal scaffolding governing Amu Darya flows, the scale and pace of construction, and the likelihood of sizable upstream abstraction intensifying water stress downstream in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. In the authors’ view, climate volatility, agricultural dependence, and existing infrastructure deficits compound these risks, raising the prospect of knock-on effects for rural livelihoods, internal migration, and food security across the lower basin.   Policy-wise, the study recommends sustained, interest-based engagement with Kabul; parallel investment in diversified corridors (including links via Iran and the South Caucasus); and a structured, region-wide water dialogue that brings Afghanistan into Central Asia’s resource-management frameworks. Its core message is pragmatic: political stabilization, transport integration, and water governance are inseparable – progress on one track will be fragile without movement on the others.   * 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.