Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and participated in the SCO summit in Bishkek.
India–Central Asia: New Impulse for Multifaceted Cooperation
New Delhi’s heightened interest in the Central Asian region is no coincidence and is linked to many factors, among which the rich energy and mineral resources of the states located there are of great importance. Additionally, India wishes to counterbalance the influence of other powers in these strategically significant countries, primarily China, the United States, and, of course, Pakistan, with which New Delhi is in a state of permanent confrontation and rivalry. Despite existing geopolitical barriers, i.e., the Afghan, Pakistani, and Chinese factors, India is rather skillfully striving to overcome these obstacles and bring the countries of the region closer to itself in the interests of its own, including energy and security. It is clear that India is highly interested in supplies from the region of oil, gas, gold, copper, fertilizers, uranium, and other critically important minerals.
At the same time, it cannot but be concerned about the continuously alarming situation in Afghanistan; the threat of the spread of terrorism, extremism, and instability to its border territories; as well as the lack – unlike in the case of China and Pakistan – of direct land access and a land corridor to Central Asia. Such geographical remoteness, combined with the Afghan, Pakistani, and Chinese factors, makes the implementation of the ambitious international North-South transport corridor using rail, sea, and road transport through the territories of Russia, Turkmenistan, Iran, and the Caspian Sea the only option for India.
India Solidifies Itself in Central Asia
That is why back in 2012 New Delhi put forward the “Connect Central Asia” initiative – a comprehensive strategy for developing cooperation with the countries of the region — and is consistently striving to promote its influence in the states of the region. One must give credit to Indian diplomacy, which has succeeded in strengthening partnerships with all Central Asian players, including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Now, in light of the 26th SCO summit being held in Bishkek, Modi timed his visits to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan to coincide with this event.
Indian Investments and Diplomacy: Developing Cooperation with Uzbekistan
Tashkent, along with Astana, is traditionally a priority partner for India as the capital of one of the key states in the region. It is no coincidence that Narendra Modi came to this republic for the fourth time, thereby emphasizing its significance for India despite the absence of a common border and transport difficulties. The results of the negotiations with the Uzbek leadership were impressive. A joint statement was adopted, and two dozen substantial documents were signed, covering a wide range of cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, energy, finance, agriculture, mechanical engineering, technology, geology, and the sphere of critical minerals, as well as pharmaceuticals, education, science, tourism, and culture.
It is noteworthy that the volume of bilateral trade turnover (currently about 1.3 billion dollars and by 2030 up to 5 billion dollars) and Indian investments (about 1 billion dollars) are growing. Over 400 enterprises with Indian capital are operating in Uzbekistan. In this regard, India is still significantly less influential to Russia and China, but the trend of expanding India’s presence here is clear. It was also agreed to hold the next summit of the leaders of India and Central Asia in 2027 in New Delhi.
Elevating relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, the leaders of the two countries clearly outlined their desire to expand it. New Delhi is very interested in the republic’s energy and mineral resources, joint counteraction of terrorism and other threats emanating from unstable Afghanistan, and in countering the growing influence in the country of China, Türkiye, Iran, and especially Pakistan, while Tashkent is interested in expanding the circle of reliable partners, attracting Indian investments, technologies and innovations. For India, given the geographical remoteness of the region and the absence of a common border, transport connectivity, primarily bypassing Pakistani territory, is becoming the main geopolitical task.
Symbolically, for his great contribution to strengthening friendship and cooperation between India and Uzbekistan, Narendra Modi was awarded the order of the highest degree of friendship. The Indian Prime Minister also visited the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial dedicated to the second prime minister of independent India, the Mahatma Gandhi Center, and met with the growing Indian diaspora in Uzbekistan.
Strengthening Ties with Kyrgyzstan: Trajectory of Development
After the state visit to Uzbekistan, Modi arrived in Bishkek on August 30 for working contacts with the leadership of Kyrgyzstan and for participation in the SCO summit. It should be noted that relations between the two countries are progressing, although they are more modest in nature compared to other Central Asian republics.
The volume of trade turnover is insignificant, standing at around 100 million dollars. There is a greater emphasis on humanitarian ties, education, pharmaceuticals, medicine, and culture. India is carrying out project activities in the republic in various spheres and is carrying out preparatory courses for law enforcement officers and military personnel. In accordance with the joint declaration signed in 2019, the parties are elevating relations to the level of strategic partnership, and now in Bishkek the leaders of the two states agreed to deepen trade and investment ties, as well as cooperation in the defense sphere.
SCO Bishkek Summit: India as an Active Regional Actor
India pays special attention to its work within the SCO, viewing it as the largest multilateral regional forum, not a politicized or anti‑Western forum in terms of its orientation, but an important tool for interaction among its participants on issues of security, the economy, and humanitarian ties.
On the sidelines of the summit, Modi held a number of significant bilateral meetings on August 31, including with the presidents of Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Iran, as well as with the prime minister of Armenia. The focus was on both bilateral relations and various conflicts in the world, as well as the priority areas of the SCO’s activities. It is interesting that the Indian leader’s meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif were neither planned nor held, even though this country will chair the SCO in 2027.
The meeting between Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi was devoted to discussing bilateral issues, the situation surrounding Ukraine and Iran, as well as preparations for the upcoming BRICS summit in New Delhi on September 12-13 under India’s chairmanship. The parties noted the high and dynamic level of relations in a wide range of areas and reaffirmed their intention to continue to fully strengthen the specially privileged and successfully developing strategic partnership between the countries.
Speaking on September 1 at the anniversary meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State, which was held under the motto of the 25th anniversary of the association, involving 10 member states, 15 partner countries, and 2 observers, the Indian leader noted the importance of reaching a consensus on the Bishkek Declaration and about three dozen other documents adopted following the summit, which reflect various aspects of the organization’s activities.
In his address at the summit, Modi placed particular emphasis on the need for a common and joint fight against all manifestations of international terrorism and criticized states that use terrorism as an instrument of state policy (surely everyone understood who this statement was directed against). The second most important point was Modi’s urgent call for the resolution of all conflicts exclusively through political and diplomatic means. And here it was obvious which conflicts were being referred to.
Overall, it appears that the Indian leadership is satisfied with the outcomes of the SCO leaders’ meeting in Bishkek and is now expecting high‑level guests for the upcoming summit of another no less influential and authoritative multilateral organization, BRICS, in New Delhi on September 12–13, a summit in which India, it should be said, is chairing quite successfully.
Anvar Azimov, Diplomat and political scientist, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Ph.D. in History, Senior Research Fellow at the Eurasian Educational Institute of MGIMO University of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia
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