ASTANA, November 5. /Dunyo IA/.  On November 5-6^th, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a working visit to Kazakhstan to attend a meeting of Central Asian Leaders within the framework of the Aqaba Process dedicated to security issues in the field of artificial intelligence, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Initiative, launched in 2015 by King Abdullah II of Jordan, has transformed over the past decade into an international platform for coordinating efforts to counter terrorism, extremism and transnational threats. Its primary objective is to strengthen cooperation between states, law enforcement agencies, international organizations and the private sector, as well as to facilitate the exchange of experience and formulate coordinated approaches to ensuring security.

Unlike traditional international organizations, the Aqaba Process does not have a permanent secretariat, official membership, or legally binding mechanisms. Participation in the meetings is by invitation, and the events themselves are held in an informal format and are dedicated to specific regions or thematic areas.

Over the years of its existence, initiative has significantly expanded its geography and agenda. Alongside East and West Africa, the Sahel, and the Balkans, participants have discussed threats in Southeast Asia and Latin America, as well as the misuse of digital technologies by extremist groups, transnational crime and emerging challenges to international security.

Meetings of the Aqaba Process have been hosted in Jordan, Albania, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Greece, France, Rwanda, the United States, Indonesia, Singapore, Spain, Italy, Norway, Brazil, and at the United Nations platform. They have been attended by heads of state and government, leaders of defense and law enforcement agencies, as well as representatives of the UN, Interpol, NATO, OSCE, European Union and other international frameworks.

Evolution of the initiative's agenda reflects the changing nature of contemporary threats. While initial focus was primarily placed on countering terrorist organizations and radical ideologies, the agenda subsequently incorporated digital propaganda, disinformation, unmanned aerial vehicles, airspace security and the strengthening of state institutions in unstable regions.

In 2024, Jordan hosted a meeting with the participation of King Abdullah II, President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas. Discussions focused on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as well as the challenges faced by Palestinian refugees.

In April 2025, summit in Sofia, Bulgaria, was dedicated to countering terrorism, illegal migration and radicalization. It was attended by representatives of around 30 states and international organizations, including the leaders of several Balkan states.

Of particular significance for expanding the international engagement of Uzbekistan was the Aqaba Process meeting held on October 14–15th, 2025, in Rome. Event, dedicated to countering threats in West Africa and ensuring regional stability, brought together representatives from more than 20 states, the African Union, the UN, NATO, the EU and Interpol. Uzbekistan was represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov.

A significant step in intensifying Uzbekistan's participation in the format was the bilateral high-level negotiations held within the framework of the state visit of King Abdullah II to Uzbekistan on August 25–26th, 2025. During the dialogue, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev highly praised the initiative of the Jordanian monarch and proposed hosting one of the upcoming sessions of the Aqaba Process in Samarkand, which would allow for the expansion of the events' geography and draw additional attention from international partners to security matters in Central Asia.

Against the backdrop of the rapid development of digital technologies, the issue of their impact on international security is gaining increasing relevance. Artificial intelligence opens up broad opportunities for economic development, state governance, and scientific research; however, it simultaneously creates new risks associated with the spread of disinformation, cyber threats and the misuse of digital tools by terrorist and extremist organizations.

Upcoming meeting in Astana will mark the next stage in the development of the Aqaba Process, focusing attention for the first time on AI security issues at the level of the Heads of State of Central Asia. This will enable the nations to exchange views on security matters in the use of artificial intelligence, discuss common regional challenges and identify promising areas of interaction.