Central Asia's Regional Organizations Explained: SCO, CIS, EAEU, CSTO, ECO and OTS

The Central Asian states — Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan — take part in a range of regional and international organizations. The following sets out the main bodies, their founding dates, members and Uzbekistan's status — on a facts-only basis, without opinion or commentary.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

The SCO was founded on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai, China. It grew out of the “Shanghai Five” (China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan), which had operated since 1996; Uzbekistan joined at the moment the SCO was created in 2001, turning the group into a six-member body. The Secretariat is in Beijing, and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure is based in Tashkent. Today the organization has 10 full members: India and Pakistan joined in 2017, Iran in 2023 and Belarus in 2024. Uzbekistan is a founding member of the SCO (2001).

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

The CIS was formed on 8 December 1991 (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine) and expanded through the Alma-Ata Protocol of 21 December 1991, when eight further republics — including Uzbekistan — joined. Its administrative centre is in Minsk, Belarus. Uzbekistan is a member, having signed the Alma-Ata Protocol on 21 December 1991.

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Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)

The EAEU treaty was signed on 29 May 2014 in Astana and entered into force on 1 January 2015. Its full members are Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. Uzbekistan is not a full member: it has held observer-state status since 11 December 2020.

Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)

The CSTO grew out of the Collective Security Treaty signed on 15 May 1992 in Tashkent; the formal organization was established on 7 October 2002. Its headquarters are in Moscow. Current members are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Uzbekistan was an original signatory of the 1992 treaty, then left it (1999), rejoined as a member in 2006, and suspended its membership again in June 2012 (formalized in December 2012). It has remained outside the organization since.

Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)

The ECO was founded in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Türkiye (successor to the Regional Cooperation for Development, 1964–1979). On 28 November 1992 seven more states — Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — joined, bringing the total to 10 members. Its secretariat is in Tehran. Uzbekistan has been a member since 28 November 1992.

Organization of Turkic States (OTS)

The OTS (formerly the Turkic Council) was established by the Nakhchivan Agreement of 3 October 2009 and renamed the “Organization of Turkic States” at the summit in Istanbul on 12 November 2021. Its general secretariat is in Istanbul. Full members are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan; observers are Hungary, Turkmenistan and Northern Cyprus. Uzbekistan became a full member at the Baku summit in 2019.

Consultative Meetings of Central Asian Heads of State

This is a regular meeting format of the five Central Asian states (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan) with no outside powers involved. The first meeting was held on 15 March 2018 in Astana; the format was initiated by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. It is not a treaty-based organization and has no permanent secretariat; the meetings are held roughly annually.

At a glance

• SCO — 2001 (Shanghai); Uzbekistan: founding member
• CIS — 1991 (Alma-Ata Protocol); Uzbekistan: member
• EAEU — signed 2014, in force 2015; Uzbekistan: observer (2020)
• CSTO — treaty 1992, org 2002; Uzbekistan: left (2012)
• ECO — 1985, expanded 1992; Uzbekistan: member (1992)
• OTS — 2009 (Nakhchivan); Uzbekistan: member (2019)
• Consultative Meetings — since 2018; Uzbekistan: initiator

Note

The above reflects the confirmed founding dates and membership status of these organizations. Membership and status can change over time; for the most accurate information, consult each organization's official sources.