Lukashenko to Attend CIS Summit in Turkmenistan as Alliance Marks 35 Years

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko will travel to Turkmenistan on 8-9 October to participate in a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Belarusian leader's press service said. The gathering of heads of state will focus on interaction within the CIS, which this year marks its 35th anniversary since its founding in 1991.

During his speech at the summit, Lukashenko is expected to set out Belarus's position on current topics of CIS activity and to outline Minsk's vision for the further prospects of the international association. The CIS, which currently includes nine member states, has sought to maintain economic, political, and security cooperation among former Soviet republics, though its influence and cohesion have been questioned in recent years.

The summit comes amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the post-Soviet space, with Russia's war in Ukraine continuing to strain relations among CIS members and prompting some states to diversify their foreign policy alignments. Observers will watch for any concrete outcomes on trade, security, or institutional reform, as well as bilateral meetings on the sidelines that could signal evolving alliances. The next steps will likely include a joint declaration or statement reflecting the leaders' consensus on the bloc's direction.