The Features of Russia's Interaction with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in Regional Security Provision in 2012-2023

Ensuring the security of the Central Asian region is a strategic interest of Russia and plays an important role in ensuring stability of its borders, as well as its international authority as a great regional power. Nevertheless, implementing this foreign policy, Russia faces a number of problems that obstruct the creation of a full-fledged regional security. In particular, it is impossible in the conditions of the vulnerable position of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. While these states are in a number of organizations created to maintain regional security, where Russia plays a coordinating role, they still face challenges to their national security. Great damage is done not only to the reputation and security of the Russian Federation, but also to the integration process as a whole. Sharing the threat vision of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, Russia is cooperating with them to reduce the threat factor. Maintaining diplomatic contacts with Afghanistan under the Taliban regime*, measures aimed at strengthening the protection of the Tajik-Afghan border from terrorists, uncontrolled flows of migrants, as well as the operational fight against drug trafficking are key elements to neutralize external and internal challenges. Despite the visible results of these measures, cooperation faces difficulties caused by problems with trust and understanding of the partners' positions, as shown by the conflict between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan over land and water. Using its increasing international prestige, Russia makes attempts to achieve greater cohesion in ensuring the national security of its allies and regional stability. If the Russian Federation continues its successful policy in this direction, many threats will be leveled, Eurasian integration will be given a great impetus, and Russia will confirm its claims to the status of a coordinating force in the region and a system-forming player on the global world stage. *prohibited on the territory of the Russian Federation