Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Tajik counterpart, Sirojiddin Mukhriddin, held a joint news conference following talks in Moscow on February 13. The two ministers discussed various aspects of their countries’ bilateral relations, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between Russia and Tajikistan.
Lavrov began by emphasizing the high level of cooperation between the two nations, highlighting their shared commitment to expanding trade, economic, and defense ties.
"The level and content of interaction between our countries reflect the nature of our alliance and strategic partnership," Lavrov said, stressing the positive momentum from regular talks between the leadership of both nations.
The ministers also touched on the upcoming visit of Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon to Moscow in May 2025 to attend the 80th anniversary celebrations of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. Lavrov expressed appreciation for Rahmon’s participation, acknowledging the significant symbolic value of the event.
Key Developments in Economic Cooperation
In terms of economic relations, Lavrov highlighted that Russia remains Tajikistan's primary trade partner, accounting for 20% of Tajikistan's foreign trade. Despite facing challenges posed by illegal sanctions from the collective West, the two countries continue to strengthen their ties, particularly in the manufacturing, agriculture, energy, and high-tech sectors.
The ministers discussed the 2024-2027 Economic Cooperation Programme, signed in October 2024, which aims to increase mutual trade by 2.5 times by 2030. Lavrov stated that this initiative would provide a boost to bilateral trade, and emphasized that concrete steps would be taken to achieve this goal.
Security and Military Cooperation
Security cooperation was another key topic. Lavrov reiterated Russia’s commitment to supporting the modernization of Tajikistan’s armed forces and emphasized the strategic importance of Russian military base No. 201 in Tajikistan, which ensures security along the southern borders of the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) area of responsibility. Both ministers agreed to continue bolstering defense cooperation, with discussions also focusing on measures to address regional threats, including the situation in Afghanistan.
"The 201st military base remains a key factor in ensuring security on the southern borders of the CSTO," Lavrov remarked, referencing ongoing efforts to strengthen defense capabilities.
Migration and Humanitarian Cooperation
The migration situation was also reviewed, with Lavrov affirming Russia's serious approach to managing migration flows from Tajikistan. Both sides committed to further collaboration on migration issues, including through interagency consultations. Lavrov also discussed the role of education and cultural exchange, announcing an increase in the annual government scholarship quota for Tajik students studying in Russia to 1,000 spots. He also highlighted the success of the "Russian Teacher Abroad" initiative, which has deployed educators to Tajikistan to support Russian language instruction.
Further cultural ties were reinforced by the planned construction of an educational center for gifted children in Dushanbe and the expansion of the Vladimir Mayakovsky Russian Drama Theatre. Lavrov noted that these projects would strengthen the cultural bond between the two nations.
Lavrov and Mukhriddin also discussed a range of regional and international matters, including the ongoing challenges posed by Afghanistan’s instability. Both ministers expressed their intention to maintain close coordination on regional security issues through multilateral frameworks such as the CSTO, SCO, and the Moscow Format for Afghanistan consultations.
Joint Initiatives and Future Plans
The ministers concluded their meeting by signing the Programme of Cooperation between the Foreign Ministries for 2025–2026 and Protocol No. 2 to the Intergovernmental Agreement on Diplomatic Missions. Lavrov expressed confidence that these documents would further strengthen the partnership between Russia and Tajikistan, both institutionally and interpersonally.
When asked about the joint security efforts between Moscow and Dushanbe, particularly concerning terrorism and the threats from Afghan territory, Lavrov confirmed that the collaboration includes fortifying the Tajik-Afghan border under the CSTO framework. He also noted that the 201st military base plays a crucial role in ensuring stability in the region.
In response to a question about U.S.-Russia relations, Lavrov emphasized the importance of addressing the fundamental issues behind the Ukrainian conflict and urged the U.S. to engage in meaningful dialogue.
"We need to understand the root causes of the conflict," Lavrov said, reflecting on the recent phone call between Presidents Putin and Trump.
The talks concluded on a note of optimism, with both ministers committed to furthering their countries’ cooperation on various fronts, reaffirming the strong and growing partnership between Russia and Tajikistan.
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