He made the remarks in a message to participants of the first SCO Plus Expert Dialogue on Security on November 6, 2026, calling for stronger international cooperation to address emerging security challenges.

The event, organized at Uzbekistan’s initiative, brings together heads and representatives of security services from Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states, as well as observer states and dialogue partners.

Mirziyoyev said that growing geopolitical tensions and armed conflicts had made information security and the protection of critical infrastructure increasingly important.

Digital technologies, artificial intelligence and global communications are creating new opportunities for development, but they are also generating new risks, he said. Cyberspace has become a major arena of confrontation, where cyberattacks, attempts to manipulate public opinion and the spread of disinformation are increasingly prevalent.

The president also expressed concern over terrorist organizations’ growing use of digital platforms. Online services are being used to promote radical ideologies, recruit supporters, raise funds and build extremist networks that operate across national borders.

Young people are particularly vulnerable to such efforts, Mirziyoyev said. Deliberate attempts to influence their thinking, exploit social tensions and spread intolerance could undermine harmony between ethnic and religious communities.

“No country can fully counter threats that know no borders on its own,” he said.

The president stressed that governments must not only respond swiftly to emerging threats but also work to prevent them. This requires improving threat detection, sharing information, strengthening national capabilities and developing coordinated approaches, he said.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization marks its 25th anniversary in 2026. Uzbekistan, one of the organization's founding members, has emphasized the need to strengthen its role in ensuring security and sustainable development.

Mirziyoyev said the SCO’s ability to respond effectively to emerging threats would depend to a large extent on closer cooperation between the member states’ security services. He expressed confidence that the dialogue would help identify practical areas for cooperation to protect public safety and support stable development across the region.