At a time when global diplomacy is increasingly shaped by polarization, resource competition, and skepticism toward multilateral institutions, the voice of smaller states has gained new weight. Few regions reflect this shift more clearly than Central Asia, a strategic corridor for energy, trade, and emerging security concerns. Within this setting, the Kyrgyz Republic has pursued a foreign policy anchored in engagement, dialogue, and institutional cooperation.
In this interview, H.E. Aibek Moldogaziev, Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United States, offers a detailed account of how Bishkek is navigating Washington’s policy environment while advancing a wider multilateral agenda. A career diplomat, Moldogaziev brings to his post years of experience within Kyrgyzstan’s foreign service, including senior roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and service at the country’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, where he worked closely on Security Council processes, international law, and coalition building among member states.
Since presenting his credentials in Washington, the Ambassador has focused on structured engagement with the U.S. administration, Congress, federal agencies, international financial institutions, and policy forums. His responses explain how Kyrgyzstan is positioning Central Asia not as a peripheral region, but as a practical partner in discussions on economic resilience, energy stability, critical minerals, and emerging technologies, particularly through frameworks such as the C5+1.
The interview moves between bilateral diplomacy and global governance, with Ambassador Moldogaziev drawing on his United Nations experience to explain how elected members of the Security Council influence outcomes, promote transparency, and shape agendas without veto power. He outlines why Kyrgyzstan’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2027–2028 term reflects a broader effort to address gaps in representation and credibility within the multilateral system.
Issues such as climate change, preventive diplomacy, nuclear non-proliferation, and peacebuilding are addressed through Kyrgyzstan’s practical experience as a mountainous country, a regional mediator, and an advocate for states that are often underrepresented in global decision-making. Across his answers, the ambassador returns to a consistent theme: that dialogue grounded in international law and inclusive participation remains the most reliable path to durable security.
Taken together, the conversation provides a clear view of how Kyrgyzstan assesses today’s diplomatic landscape and the role it seeks to play within it, offering readers insight into both the country’s strategic thinking and the professional experience guiding its representation in Washington. Excerpt:
Since presenting your credentials in Washington, how have you approached your role as Ambassador, particularly in positioning Kyrgyzstan within U.S. policy conversations and explaining Central Asia’s place in today’s international landscape?
The beginning of my tenure as Kyrgyz Ambassador to the United States coincided with the return of President Trump’s administration to Washington, bringing new pathways for cooperation. In my work, I focus on strengthening bilateral relations, increasing the visibility of Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia in the United States, and showcasing Kyrgyzstan’s role as a reliable and ready partner.
I liaise with representatives of the administration, the State Department, Congress, federal government agencies, think tanks, and private companies to discuss practical cooperation in trade, investment, banking, transportation, and humanitarian issues.
U.S. interest in the region is proactive and pragmatic, taking into account new geopolitical realities and the growing importance of Central Asia in global economic partnerships, critical mineral supply chains, and energy stability. This year’s historic C5+1 summit, which took place in Washington on November 6, united heads of state of each of the five Central Asian nations with President Trump and his team. It signaled a depth of mutual interest and readiness to expand cooperation. In particular, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov and President Trump discussed priorities for bilateral cooperation and partnership between Kyrgyzstan and the United States, including in the political sphere, as well as in finance, technology, and artificial intelligence.
Washington serves not only as a bilateral capital but also as a crossroads for multilateral diplomacy. How does your engagement here support Kyrgyzstan’s wider foreign policy objectives beyond the bilateral relationship?
Washington is an important nexus for coordination within the C5+1 format regarding high-stakes governance issues of regional security, economics, energy, transportation, and environmental issues. Kyrgyzstan has been an active participant and diligent leader, promoting regional initiatives and cooperation on common challenges.
Washington is, of course, also the headquarters of key global organizations like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Our diplomatic participation in these institutions, along with other international organizations including the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe allows Kyrgyzstan to secure foreign investment and expert support for economic and infrastructure development and directly informs implementation of social projects.
Washington also provides rich opportunities for connecting with business owners and investors. The Embassy actively works with the US-Kyrgyzstan Business Council and other partners to facilitate investment in key economic sectors and expand trade opportunities. Each of these avenues represent a multi-vector and pragmatic approach to Kyrgyz foreign policy in Washington.
You previously served at Kyrgyzstan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations during a period of sustained Security Council activity. What did that experience reveal to you about how influence is exercised inside the Council by elected members?
While UN Security Council permanent members play a key role and hold important veto power, elected (non-permanent) members have significant levers of influence. Elected members can use their tenure on the Council, as well as the rotating chairmanship, to represent and unite groups of member states (e.g., small island states, mountainous countries, and regional groups) that share common challenges and goals. By speaking on behalf of these groups, elected members lend legitimacy and weight to the Council’s decisions, broaden its mandate, and diversify coalitions.
Elected members also demand greater transparency in the Council’s work. Their ability to shape the agenda and deploy procedural tools to adjust Council decisions is an asset in building consensus.
Your career has spanned international law, policy coordination, and multilateral negotiation. How have these different responsibilities shaped the way you approach decision-making and representation today?
My experience in these areas gives me a better understanding of the complex interplay between legal frameworks, political realities, and the diverse interests of stakeholders. I approach problems systemically, considering potential consequences and interdependencies.
International law provides a solid foundation based on the principles of justice and the rule of law. At the same time, policy coordination and negotiation require a pragmatic lens and the ability to find realistic and mutually acceptable solutions. My approach today is a combination of commitment to core principles and the flexibility needed to achieve practical results.
The Kyrgyz Republic is seeking election to a non permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2027–2028 term. In a climate of growing skepticism toward multilateral institutions, why does your government believe this bid is both timely and necessary?
The Kyrgyz Republic’s decision to run for non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council is based on recognition of significant challenges facing the multilateral system. In context of growing polarization and a lack of trust, we believe that the Security Council requires independent and constructive voices from states that are not involved in bloc confrontation and that consistently uphold the principles of dialogue, respect for international law, and an inclusive approach.
Kyrgyzstan advocates for greater effectiveness, transparency, and representation of the Security Council, including the need to expand membership and account for regional balance. A number of states, including Kyrgyzstan, have never been members of the Council, while other individual countries have been elected multiple times. We are convinced that expanding the membership of the Security Council will enhance its inclusiveness, transparency, and effectiveness, and will ensure greater participation of states from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, particularly small and medium-sized countries, in key decision-making.
Kyrgyzstan has long spoken in favor of dialogue and preventive diplomacy. How would these principles guide your country’s engagement with the Security Council’s most complex and entrenched files?
Dialogue and preventive diplomacy are an integral part of Kyrgyzstan’s foreign policy and are particularly relevant in the work of the Security Council. I would advocate for increased attention to early conflict prevention, support for mediation missions, and scaffolding for regional mechanisms. Even in the most complex and protracted crises, we intend to consistently promote political solutions as the only sustainable alternative to escalation.
As a mountainous country directly experiencing the impacts of climate change, Kyrgyzstan understands contemporary challenges well. Kyrgyzstan strives to play a “bridge” role at the UN, ensuring that the interests of mountainous and small island states are taken into account. We will advocate for strengthened global efforts in climate change adaptation, sustainable development of mountain areas, and the protection of vulnerable ecosystems. This includes supporting early warning systems and integrating climate risks into peacebuilding processes.
Kyrgyzstan is one of the initiators and active supporters of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia and consistently supports international efforts aimed at achieving a world without nuclear weapons. We proceed from the conviction that sustainable security can only be achieved on the basis of cooperation, mutual trust, and collective responsibility, and not through the buildup of arms. Kyrgyzstan’s signing of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons further reflects our commitment to protecting future generations from nuclear threats.
Kyrgyzstan resists the deepening of dividing lines and the practice of bloc confrontation in the work of the Security Council. We will consistently promote a culture of dialogue, preventive diplomacy, and mediation as tools for peaceful and sustainable conflict resolution.
We are convinced that long-term security in the region is impossible without peace in Afghanistan. Kyrgyzstan provides humanitarian support to the Afghan population, paying particular attention to the most vulnerable groups, including women and children. At the same time, we support the implementation of regional projects, such as CASA-1000, aimed at developing energy and transport connectivity between Central and South Asia with the participation of Afghanistan.
Kyrgyzstan strives to increase international attention to the socio-economic development of countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania. At the core of our agenda are issues of inclusive economic growth, food and energy security, and joint efforts to combat climate change.
Kyrgyzstan recognizes the need to increase representation of the Security Council so that it better reflects the interests of developing countries, including states in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. We advocate for strengthening the role of small states in decision-making and for the development of a more just and balanced global governance architecture.
Respect for international law has been a defining feature of Kyrgyzstan’s diplomacy and of your own professional path. How do you assess the role of legal frameworks in shaping credible and durable Security Council action today?
Promoting the rule of law in the UN Security Council is not just a formality, but a strategic necessity for a just and secure world order. International law serves as the foundation for the legitimacy of UN Security Council decisions. The legal framework allows the Security Council to incorporate new aspects of security – from cyber threats to climate risks – into the system of international regulation, while maintaining continuity of the world order. Solutions based on the rule of law, rather than political expediency, are more viable in the long term because they create predictable algorithms of action for all parties and limit arbitrary use of force. For states like Kyrgyzstan, adherence to international law is the only reliable tool for protecting sovereignty and national interests in the face of global turbulence.
Central Asia is often referenced in global security discussions without direct representation at decision-making tables. How would Kyrgyzstan ensure that the region’s realities are reflected in Council debates without reducing them to regional narratives alone?
Central Asia often figures in global discussions without direct participation in decision-making. We will strive to ensure that regional experience is presented through specific topics – climate, water resources, cross-border security, and sustainability. In doing so, we will not only speak on behalf of the region, but will also bring our own authentic perspective to the discussion, based on practical experience.
Central Asia is undergoing a period of profound transformation and increasing interdependency. Joint efforts by countries in the region to strengthen cohesion are opening new opportunities for development and expanded international cooperation. Leading global powers recognize the region’s significant role in global growth. Drawing on the experience of Central Asia—a region with a complex geopolitical configuration—Kyrgyzstan intends to bring a unique perspective to the work of the Security Council, promoting preventive diplomacy and regional cooperation that takes into account the interests of small and vulnerable states.
Security Council campaigns depend heavily on confidence and consistency among partners. How is Kyrgyzstan engaging Member States across different regions as it builds support for its candidacy?
We are conducting active and consistent dialogue with states from all regions of the world, with special support and joint work carried out with the countries of Central Asia. It is worth noting here the recent address by the Heads of State of Central Asia to the United Nations Member States in support of the candidacy of the Kyrgyz Republic for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the 2027- 2028 term, adopted at the VII Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia. The aspirations of the Kyrgyz Republic and the tasks set as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council fully reflect the interests of the countries of the region.
On 15 December 2025, in New York, a meeting of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission on the peaceful settlement of border issues was held at the initiative of the Kyrgyz Republic. During the meeting, the achievements of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in resolving border related issues were highly appreciated. In recent years, the three countries have demonstrated strong political will, diplomatic maturity, and a shared commitment to addressing border issues exclusively through peaceful means, in full accordance with international law. The meeting of the Commission generated significant interest among United Nations Member States in the regional peace process in Central Asia. The experience of the Kyrgyz Republic in the peaceful settlement of disputes would be reflected in its approach to the work of the United Nations Security Council.
When elected for the 2027–2028 term, how would you personally measure the success of Kyrgyzstan’s tenure on the Security Council, beyond formal outcomes or voting records?
I encourage evaluation of success not only by formal decisions or voting results, but also by substantive and long-term criteria.
First, in terms of contribution to strengthening peace and trust: the extent to which Kyrgyzstan has been able to promote dialogue, preventive diplomacy, and mediation in conflict situations, fostering constructive interaction between Council members and stakeholders, should serve as a metric of success.
Second, by the effectiveness of regional initiatives and security: I would evaluate the extent to which our efforts have helped create conditions for sustainable peace, expanded humanitarian aid, and strengthened inter-regional connectivity in energy and transport.
I would also assess the Council’s ability to expand representation and amplify the voices of small and developing states. To what extent has Kyrgyzstan’s presence helped make Council discussions more inclusive and reflective of the interests of countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America?
Finally, success can be measured by the degree of long-term trust and cooperation that has been built with other Council members, international organizations, and partners. Ultimately, for us, success is not just about formal decisions, but about Kyrgyzstan’s real contribution to strengthening global security, sustainable development, and multilateral cooperation.
