Inter-ministerial consultations “Countering New Challenges and Threats” were held at the CIS Headquarters on June 17, 2026.
The consultations were attended by representatives of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of the Anti-Terrorism Center (ATC) and the Secretariat of the Council of Heads of Financial Intelligence Units of the CIS Member States.
The CIS ATC representative provided an assessment of terrorist threats in the Commonwealth area and presented the results of the activities carried out by competent authorities. The radicalization of young people and their involvement in terrorist activities remain a matter of concern, as well as the use of modern technologies for carrying out terrorist acts and financing terrorism.
The representative of the ATC also provided information on areas of counter-terrorism cooperation both within the CIS framework and with relevant international organizations.
The participants of the consultations noted the further deterioration of the global security situation and the declining effectiveness of international cooperation in countering new challenges and threats amid the current geopolitical instability. They also emphasized the need to continue coordinating efforts of the CIS member states to ensure security in Eurasia, act collectively at international organizations’ platforms to protect the interests of the Commonwealth and promote its approaches to countering new challenges and threats, as well as enhancing relations with other regional organizations, primarily the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
The delegations discussed in details security risks associated with the activities of terrorist organizations and illicit drug trafficking in Afghanistan.
The meeting noted that the Commonwealth has successfully managed to mitigate existing security risks thanks to proven mechanisms of interaction between special services and law enforcement agencies of the participating states, including cooperation within the ATC.
The participants reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening joint efforts in the areas of counter-terrorism and counter-extremism and fully implementing collective measures envisaged by the CIS Cooperation Programme in Countering Terrorism and Extremism for 2026-2028 (in Russian). They also noted the potential for developing cooperation on this issue within the framework of the United Nations, including through project activities of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism.
A substantive exchange of views on illicit drug trafficking within the Commonwealth area was held. The participants reaffirmed their commitment to further consolidating the CIS efforts in countering the drug threat.
The delegations emphasized the importance of close cooperation in combating money laundering and terrorist financing, primarily through the platforms of the Council of Heads of Financial Intelligence Units of the CIS Member States and the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism.