RIYADH, April 2, 2025: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday welcomed the border agreement between Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan regarding the Fergana Valley, a long-contested region that has sparked violent clashes.
In a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Kingdom also congratulated the three Central Asian nations for signing the Khujand Declaration on Eternal Friendship, wishing them “ongoing stability and prosperity.”
Saudi Arabia has fostered strong relations with Central Asian countries, having hosted the GCC Central Asian Investment Forum in May 2024.
The border deal, signed on Monday by Presidents Emomali Rakhmon of Tajikistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, and Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, officially established the border point where their countries meet in the mountainous valley.
The densely populated area has been the site of frequent conflicts, primarily over water control in a region severely impacted by climate change.
The three leaders met just days before an EU-Central Asia summit in Uzbekistan. Relations between the former Soviet republics, historically marked by rivalries, have improved in recent years.
Central Asian borders were often drawn during the Soviet era without clear demarcation.
However, in recent years, these countries have made progress with border agreements to manage water resources, enhance trade, and ensure stability in the resource-rich region.
In Khujand, Tajikistan, the three presidents also issued statements calling for strengthened cooperation between the nations, particularly in energy and transportation.
The Tajik and Kyrgyz leaders also inaugurated a section of a joint high-voltage line to supply Pakistan and Afghanistan with energy generated by Central Asian hydroelectric plants.
The summit follows earlier border treaties signed in March between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, as well as between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in 2023.