The ten years since the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) have constituted a period during which the balance of power in Central Asia has been reshaped. In this process, the role played by Kyrgyzstan has provided a typical example of how small states can create political and economic space for themselves through multilateral organizations. The summits held in Cholpon-Ata and on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul have become platforms that not only went beyond being technical meetings where economic statistics were shared but also revealed Kyrgyzstan’s diplomatic capacity and regional sphere of influence.
The regional influence policies pursued by Russia through the EAEU and the active role of actors such as Kazakhstan and Iran within the Union have made the question of how Kyrgyzstan will position itself in a multi-actor balance of power even more significant. Therefore, these summits represent a strategic turning point, as they allow Kyrgyzstan not only to protect its national interests but also to guide new multi-centered integration models in Central Asia.
The extended session of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council held on 15 August 2025 in the city of Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, was not merely a platform where technical decisions were taken but also a stage on which Kyrgyzstan’s regional position was redefined. Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, emphasized the economic growth achieved by the EAEU within ten years while highlighting his country’s gains during this process. The data presented by Kasymaliev (an 18 percent increase in GDP, growth in industry and agriculture, and the doubling of mutual trade volume) demonstrated that Kyrgyzstan is not merely a passive member but rather an active beneficiary of Eurasian integration.[i]
The conference held on 13 August on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan’s accession to the EAEU, provided a platform for a deeper discussion of these achievements. It was noted that the several-fold increase in national income, the quadrupling of export volume, and the investments in infrastructure through the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund had strengthened the country’s integration capacity. However, this conference was not limited to showcasing successes; it also shed light on the structural problems of the Union. Border barriers, artificial delays in trade, and restrictions on the movement of capital and services revealed that integration had not been fully institutionalized. While Kyrgyzstan’s experience showed that small economies could also find opportunities for growth, it was underlined that lasting success required the full implementation of the EAEU’s “four freedoms.” From this perspective, Kyrgyzstan occupies the position of a laboratory for the Union’s future reform processes.
Against the backdrop of these debates, Russia’s role is of critical importance. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin pointed out that one of the key parameters determining the future of integration was the free movement of goods, services, and capital. As the founding and dominant actor of the EAEU, Moscow seeks both to deepen institutionalization within the Union and to align this structure with its own geopolitical strategies. From this perspective, the economic gains achieved by Kyrgyzstan through integration are directly linked to the consolidation of Russia’s regional influence. Thus, the opportunities offered by the EAEU to Kyrgyzstan are shaped under the shadow of Russia’s stance in Central Asia.
The VII Kyrgyz-Russian Economic Forum, held in Bosteri on 13 August, offered a symbolic example of this relationship. At the conference dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the EAEU, cooperation between Russia and Kyrgyzstan was discussed particularly in the context of digital transformation, industrial and technological partnerships, and agro-industrial integration.[ii] Kyrgyzstan’s evolution from a “compliant” position in the integration process to an “agenda-setting” actor has led to a redefinition of Moscow’s strategic approach toward this country. Kyrgyzstan’s rise within the EAEU represents both an opportunity and a dependency relationship that must be carefully managed from Russia’s perspective.
The participation of Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov at the summit also underscored the importance of intra-Central Asian balances. Bektenov’s emphasis on the development of trade and external economic relations demonstrated that the EAEU is not merely a Moscow-centered structure but rather shows a tendency to transform into a multi-actor regional platform. The signing of ten official documents and the adoption of decisions across a wide spectrum ranging from transportation to the pharmaceutical sector constituted a pragmatic outcome of the process conducted under Kyrgyzstan’s auspices.[iii]
At the same time, the EAEU’s sphere of attraction is not limited to its member states. The participation of Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref at the summit confirmed that the Union has become a center of attraction beyond Central Asia as well. Aref’s emphasis on Iran’s progress from observer status toward permanent membership and his call for deepening integration in areas such as energy, logistics, and agriculture should be interpreted as a regional manifestation of Tehran’s “turn to the East” strategy.[iv] This move by Iran carries the risk of turning the EAEU, under Russia’s leadership, into part of an anti-Western bloc. Iran’s presence at a summit hosted by Kyrgyzstan underscored the country’s role as a bridge in regional dialogue.
In this context, Kyrgyzstan’s hosting was not merely a technical organization but also an example of what the international relations literature defines as “small states’ power projection through multilateral institutions.” By using its position within the EAEU, Kyrgyzstan is both deepening its strategic ties with Moscow and demonstrating its capacity for regional leadership. This situation reveals the emergence of a multi-centered understanding of integration in Central Asia.
Another area that has increased Kyrgyzstan’s effectiveness within the EAEU has been tourism and cultural diplomacy. At the panel entitled “The Digital Vector of Eurasian Tourism,” Kyrgyzstan’s vision of digitalizing tourism was highlighted, while the efforts of EAEU countries to establish a common tourism ecosystem were discussed.[v] Such initiatives demonstrate that the EAEU is transforming not only into an economic project but also into a social and cultural integration project.
The strategic education session in Bishkek was also a complementary part of this vision. The Eurasian Educational Spaces, research laboratories, and WorldSkills-format competitions, designed to strengthen the common educational field between Russia and Kyrgyzstan, were not merely pedagogical innovations but also institutional tools for building a shared identity. By hosting these initiatives, Kyrgyzstan has assumed a pioneering role in regional cultural integration.
From Kyrgyzstan’s perspective, the summits it has hosted within the framework of the EAEU and the 10th anniversary events have offered the country an opportunity to enhance its visibility in regional diplomacy. In this regard, Kyrgyzstan constitutes a contemporary example of how states with limited capacity can use multilateral institutional mechanisms to create room for maneuver. However, this situation also carries two-sided risks. On the one hand, Kyrgyzstan directly benefits from the economic and institutional development of the EAEU, achieving tangible gains such as increased foreign investment, the expansion of trade volume, and the acceleration of infrastructure projects. On the other hand, since most of these gains are tied to Moscow-centered integration policies, Kyrgyzstan’s strategic autonomy may remain constrained. Therefore, the fundamental issue for Kyrgyzstan is to develop balancing policies that can make use of the economic advantages provided by the EAEU while preventing a deepening dependence on Russia.
Russia’s efforts to expand its regional influence through the EAEU generate both opportunities and threats for Kyrgyzstan. As the founding and dominant actor of the Union, Moscow has the capacity to shape the institution’s political and economic agenda. This ensures Kyrgyzstan’s short-term gains in terms of stability and foreign investment but simultaneously brings with it the risk of deepening dependency relations in the long run. Yet in the upcoming period, the European Union’s (EU) expanding engagement strategy toward Central Asia may create a new window of opportunity for Kyrgyzstan. The EU’s cooperation offers in fields such as energy security, digitalization, green transformation, and infrastructure projects may enable Kyrgyzstan to assume the role of a “balancing bridge” between the EAEU and the EU. In such a scenario, Kyrgyzstan could seek to benefit from Russia-led integration while also attracting the EU’s economic and technological resources to strengthen its strategic autonomy. Nevertheless, Moscow perceives the EU’s growing influence in the region as a “geopolitical challenge.” This may expose Kyrgyzstan to more complex pressures. For this reason, the country’s strategic priority may be to establish diversified partnerships through the EU’s engagement and to develop a multidimensional foreign policy line that balances Russia’s influence.
In conclusion, Kyrgyzstan’s rise within the framework of the EAEU has positioned the country at the center of regional diplomacy, moving it beyond being a member that merely derives economic gains. Yet this process, unfolding under the shadow of Russia’s decisive influence, entails serious risks alongside opportunities. In the coming period, the EU’s expanding engagement strategy toward Central Asia may open new channels for Kyrgyzstan in terms of both economic diversification and strategic autonomy. Therefore, Kyrgyzstan’s success will depend on its ability to develop a flexible “balancing policy” that leverages integration within the EAEU while preventing excessive dependence on Russia and simultaneously taking advantage of the EU’s multidimensional cooperation opportunities.
[i] “Kyrgyzstan Lauds Eurasian Economic Union’s Economic Vitality”, Xinhua, https://english.news.cn/20250815/2cfbdb617a0148ceae2293f62d8157fd/c.html, (Access Date: 16.08.2025).
[ii] “Arzybek Kozhoshev: ‘Za Desyat let v YEAES Kyrgyzstan Proshol Bolshoy put’”, AEK, https://eec.eaeunion.org/news/arzybek-kozhoshev-za-desyat-let-v-eaes-kyrgyzstan-proshyel-bolshoy-put-/, (Access Date: 16.08.2025).
[iii] Adlet Seilkhanov, “Prime Minister Bektenov Attends Expanded Meeting of EIGC in Kyrgyzstan”, Kazinform, https://qazinform.com/news/prime-minister-bektenov-attends-expanded-meeting-of-eigc-in-kyrgyzstan-42bf12, (Access Date: 16.08.2025).
[iv] “Iran’s Vice President Begins Central Asia Visit to Cement Strategic Ties”, Press TV, https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/08/14/753078/Expanding-ties-with-Eurasia-a-priority-for-Iran,-says-VP-ahead-of-Kyrgyzstan-visit, (Access Date: 16.08.2025).
[v] “Kyrgyzstan i YEAES Razvivayut Tsifrovoy Turizm”, Akchabar, https://www.akchabar.kg/news/kirgizstan-i-eaes-razvivayut-tsifrovoj-turizm-oceetjnznywnahxw, (Access Date: 16.08.2025).
