Tajikistan on the ...
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Small and medium-sized countries, like major powers, make decisions based on their national interests, security considerations and the constraints of their foreign relations. Iran’s support should be grounded in shared regional interests and respect for Tajikistan’s independent decision-making, rather than an expectation of complete political alignment. Second, expectations of non-permanent Security Council membership should not exceed its actual capacity.Such membership does not confer veto power and cannot transform the balance of power within the Security Council. However, it provides an opportunity to take part in negotiations, help shape the agenda and raise the profile of regional priorities. Even this limited capacity is valuable in international politics.
Ultimately, Tajikistan’s bid for membership should be viewed in the context of a broader question: Do Central Asian countries intend to remain objects of competition and power balancing among major powers, or will they seek to become more influential actors in shaping the regional and international order? Supporting Tajikistan’s bid could serve as a test of how they answer this question. For Iran, too, the choice is clear. A country that seeks to strengthen multilateralism, enhance the role of its neighbors and promote a more balanced international order should support opportunities that help increase the capacity of regional countries to act on the international stage. The significance of this initiative does not lie in the optimistic notion that a single seat can change the global balance of power, but in the reality that, in international politics, major changes sometimes begin with the accumulation of small opportunities and their transformation into sustainable capabilities.