OSCE Forum with Central Asia Border Commanders Addresses Drug Trafficking
Summary
The 2026 OSCE Secretary General Forum with Central Asia Border Commanders took place in Istanbul on April 21, 2026, bringing together commanders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Discussions focused on strengthening border security and management, enhancing regional cooperation to prevent and combat drug trafficking including synthetic drugs, and addressing broader transnational threats such as organized crime and terrorism. The Forum, established in 2023, has become a key platform for strategic regional dialogue and trust-building between Central Asian Border Commanders and the OSCE.
“These transnational threats affect us all. They cannot be addressed in isolation. They require a collective and comprehensive response.”
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What changed
The OSCE convened its 2026 Forum with Central Asia Border Commanders in Istanbul, marking the fourth annual meeting since the Forum's establishment in 2023. The Forum addressed strengthening border security and management, with particular emphasis on preventing and combating drug trafficking including synthetic drugs, alongside broader transnational threats including organized crime, terrorism, and the use of new technologies by criminal networks.\n\nBorder management agencies and government security bodies operating in Central Asia should note the OSCE's continued commitment to supporting participating States through risk-based, intelligence-led border and security management, and strengthening inter-agency and cross-border cooperation. The Forum provides a platform for identifying shared regional challenges and tailoring OSCE support, including through the Border Management Staff College, to regional operational priorities and capacity-building needs.
Archived snapshot
Apr 23, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Press release
Illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs within the context of regional border security focus of OSCE Secretary General Forum with Central Asia Border Commanders
Date:
21 April 2026
Place: Istanbul Source: OSCE Secretary General Fields of work: Border management ISTANBUL, 21 April 2026 – The 2026 Forum of the OSCE Secretary General and Central Asia Border Commanders concluded in Istanbul today. Discussions focused on strengthening border security and management in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Enhancing regional co-operation to prevent and combat drug trafficking, including synthetic drugs, and broader transnational threats was also further explored.
Since its establishment in 2023, the Forum has developed into a key platform for strategic regional dialogue. “The Forum has, in a short time, proven its value,” said OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu. “It has become a trusted platform for direct exchange between the Central Asian Border Commanders and the OSCE, helping to identify shared regional challenges and strengthen co-operation and trust.”
The Secretary General reaffirmed the OSCE’s commitment to support participating States through risk-based, intelligence-led border and security management, and to strengthen inter-agency and cross-border co-operation, in line with its comprehensive approach to security.
“The security environment across the OSCE region is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable, amid profound geopolitical volatility. Instability in the wider region continues to affect the security in Central Asia, alongside persistent transnational threats including drug trafficking, organized crime, terrorism and the growing use of new technologies by criminal networks,” added the Secretary General. “These transnational threats affect us all. They cannot be addressed in isolation. They require a collective and comprehensive response.”
Bilateral meetings between the Secretary General and Border Commanders were also held on the margins of the Forum to discuss operational priorities, emerging security concerns as well as training and capacity-building needs.
The Forum’s outcomes will help the OSCE further tailor support to the region, including through the Border Management Staff College.
Contacts
Communication and Media Relations Section
OSCE Secretariat
Email: press@osce.org
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