The capital of Kazakhstan has become a platform for international dialogue on countering terrorism and extremism amid the rapid development of digital technologies.

An international summit of the Aqaba Process dedicated to security in the field of artificial intelligence was held in Astana. The meeting was jointly organised by Kazakhstan and Jordan. For the first time in the history of the initiative, negotiations of this format took place in Central Asia.

The event was attended by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, King of Jordan Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Jeenbek Kulubaev, as well as representatives of other states and international organisations.

It should be recalled that the Aqaba Process is an international initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation among countries in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. It was put forward in 2015 by King Abdullah II of Jordan. The name is linked to the Jordanian city of Aqaba, where the first meetings within this format were held.

It is worth noting that a distinctive feature of the initiative is its broad representation: the dialogue involves not only heads of state and government, but also heads of special services, military departments, international organisations and specialised experts. Participants exchange information on current threats, study international experience and develop coordinated response measures.

It should be noted that similar international meetings have been held at venues in various countries, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Indonesia and the United States. The focus was on regional security issues, measures to combat terrorist organisations, and threats associated with the development of new technologies.

The central theme of the Astana summit was the use of artificial intelligence in the context of international security. The rapid development of digital technologies opens up new opportunities, yet at the same time creates additional risks, including those related to their use by terrorist and extremist groups.

Participants discussed countering the use of AI for criminal purposes, improving mechanisms for detecting threats, and strengthening international and regional cooperation. Particular attention was paid to the exchange of experience and the coordination of joint approaches to responding to new technological challenges.

Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, emphasising that the topic of artificial intelligence security is acquiring particular importance today, noted that holding the summit in Astana would make it possible to present the position of Central Asia on issues of international security and to unite the efforts of states in the interests of peace and stability.

Undoubtedly, the importance of the technological dimension is due to the fact that modern digital tools can be used both to prevent threats and analyse large volumes of information, and to disseminate extremist materials, disinformation and other unlawful activities. Therefore, one of the priority tasks is the development of effective mechanisms to prevent such risks.

Kazakhstan consistently raises this topic at various interstate platforms. And the Astana meeting became a continuation of international work on forming common approaches to the regulation and safe use of artificial intelligence. Alongside this, our country is developing its own regulatory framework in the field of artificial intelligence. The law adopted in 2025 establishes requirements for the security of AI systems, the protection of personal data and the management of technological risks; it is aimed at ensuring transparency and security in the use of new technologies within the country, while international initiatives make it possible to coordinate states’ approaches to countering cross-border threats.

Holding the Aqaba Process summit in Astana became an important step in expanding international dialogue and strengthening cooperation between the countries of Central Asia and other partners. In the context of digital transformation, issues of technological security are increasingly linked to global stability, and effective countering of new threats requires the combined efforts of states, specialised agencies and international organisations.

Prepared by Arlan EMIR