PM’s central Asia trip amid rising geopolitical salience

New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi‘s Uzbekistan visit and subsequently to Kyrgyzstan must be viewed in the context of the growing importance of Central Asia in the current geopolitical and geoeconomic upheaval and India’s bid for non-permanent membership of UNSC at a time when Tajikistan has also bid for the non-permanent membership of the UNSC.

During the meeting in Tashkent, Modi and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reaffirmed that the UN must play a central role in maintaining global peace and security. They agreed to strengthen their cooperation, including through mutual support, in the UN and other international and regional organisations.

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“Both leaders called for comprehensive reform of the UN, including Security Council, to reflect contemporary global realities and to make it more representative, effective and efficient in dealing with issues of international peace and security. Uzbekistan reaffirmed its support to India’s candidature for permanent membership of the UNSC,” according to the joint statement issued at the end of Summit. Interestingly, Kyrgyzstan will be in UNSC as a non-permanent member for two years beginning January 2027.