On 26 November 2025,the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISRS) hosted a meeting between First Deputy Director Akramjon Nematov and a French delegation led by Colonel Patrick Bryant, Deputy Head of the “Europe, North America and Multilateral Action” Department of the Directorate-General for International Relations and Strategy of the Ministry of the Armed Forces of France.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on security issues and regional cooperation in Central Asia. The French experts were briefed on the outcomes of the Seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, held on 16 November in Tashkent, as well as the substance and significance of the documents adopted at the summit.

Particular attention was paid to the newly adopted Concept of Regional Security and Stability, which is based on a comprehensive approach to security matters, enabling coordinated responses to emerging challenges and creating favorable conditions for sustainable development in the region.

The French delegation was also informed about Uzbekistan’s approaches to expanding and strengthening cooperation within Central Asia, including efforts to reinforce institutional frameworks and mechanisms of regional partnership. It was emphasized that the launch of meetings of Security Secretaries of the region’s states, the heads of defense ministries, and the chiefs of special services, along with the conduct of joint exercises, contributes to building a reliable regional security architecture.

At the same time, it was underlined that the region remains open to cooperation with all partners based on equality, mutual respect, and consideration of interests. In this context, special emphasis was placed on the importance of enhancing cooperation within “Central Asia Plus” formats, which reflects the aspiration of the region’s countries to act from unified positions and strengthen Central Asia’s agency in international affairs.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their mutual interest in continuing exchanges to deepen understanding of each other’s positions and expand bilateral cooperation in areas of shared interest