Tashkent to host SCO universal security center

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan has adopted in third reading a bill ratifying an agreement on creating a Universal Center for countering challenges and threats to the security of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states. The bill has been sent to the Senate.

The agreement was signed on 1 September 2025 in Tianjin. It provides for the center to be established in Tashkent on the basis of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure. The new structure will also include the Information Security Center and the Center for Countering Transnational Organized Crime, which is located in Bishkek.

The center's main tasks will be information exchange between competent bodies of SCO member states, joint analysis of security threats, organizing joint events and practical exercises, and coordinating the training and professional development of specialists. The agreement defines the center's legal status, management system, financing procedure and mechanisms for interaction with competent bodies of member states. The initiative is aimed at strengthening SCO cooperation against terrorism, extremism, transnational organized crime and threats to information security.