Anis H. Bajrektarevic is a Professor and a Chairperson for International Law and Global

MODERNDIPLOMACY.EU

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fOREIgN POLICY
Tajikistan is highly dependent on international
support and international donor funds. The Eu-
ropean Union became a strategic partner of
Tajikistan and is working “to facilitate Tajikistan
economic transition, promoting inclusive, sus-
tainable human and economic develop-
ment.”[83] Tajikistan and the European Union
signed a Partnership and Co-operation Agree-
ment in 2004 which entered into force in 2010.
The partnership agreements focuses on
strengthening economic partnerships, the de-
sire to promote international peace and secu-
rity, and to protect the rule of law and human
rights all while encouraging regional coopera-
tion.[84] The European Union has also become
a foreign policy priority for Tajikistan.
Due to Tajikistan’s unfavorable and landlocked
geographical position, Russia is still the most
important partner in terms of political, eco-
nomic, and military support. Russia is interested
in Tajikistan for many of the same reasons it is
interested in its other former Soviet subordi-
nates: provides a strategic context to maintain
its sphere of influence, countering Western and
Chinese influence, and to house Russian troops.
In April 2015, Russia reaffirmed its military rela-
tionship with Tajikistan focusing on the deteri-
oration of the security situation after NATO
forces have moved out of the region after the
U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.[85]
Tajikistan shares a 1,200km border with Tajik-
istan and Russia’s Russia’s 201st Motorized Rifle
Division is stationed near the border and troops
from the 201st Motor Rifle Division will be stay-
ing until 2042[86].
The Kremlin-backed media outlet, Russia Today,
reported in April 2015 that Russia is to give
“about $1.2 billion worth of weapons and mili-
tary equipment to the Central Asian nation of
Tajikistan, which is currently threatened by in-
vasion from the Islamic State” as part of Russia’s
modernization package for Tajikistan and to
strengthen 
border 
security 
between
Afghanistan and Tajikistan.[87] 
Meanwhile, Tajikistan’s relations with neighbor-
ing Afghanistan have improved in the past
years; the relations with Uzbekistan still remain
very tense and problematic over resource
scarcity and border security. The tension be-
tween Tajikistan and Uzbekistan arises out of
the energy sector, particularly regarding the
controversial water issues, and is “borne out of
similarity, proximity, and scarcity.”[88] 
Tajikistan is also cultivating closer ties with
other major countries in the region such as Iran,
Turkey, and India. Turkey, when the Soviet
Union collapsed, had its sights on its Turkic re-
publics as they share linguistic, religious, and
cultural ties.