President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tajikistan on Wednesday evening for a three-day visit aimed at reinforcing Russia’s influence in Central Asia, a region where Moscow’s historical supremacy is increasingly under threat from both China and Western nations.

Upon his arrival in the capital city of Dushanbe, Putin was greeted by Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon. On Thursday, the Russian leader is set to engage in discussions with the heads of the five Central Asian republics, with a focus on regional security matters and economic collaboration.

Putin’s delegation includes Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, who visited a significant Russian military base in Tajikistan on Wednesday, which is one of Moscow’s largest overseas facilities.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov informed state media that Putin is also anticipated to hold talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Thursday, following a period of troubled relations between Russia and Baku.

Russia is striving to maintain its position in Central Asia through energy agreements, including deals for natural gas supplies and nuclear power plant construction.

However, Beijing has swiftly enhanced its economic influence in the region, while the European Union has been actively engaging with Central Asian leaders by offering investment opportunities and infrastructure partnerships.

So far this year, Central Asia has held two significant summits — one with the European Union in April and another with China in June, in addition to a prior meeting with Turkey in 2024.