The joint statement, adopted September 12, explicitly targeted Western-dominated institutions like the IMF and the World Bank, calling for increased influence for developing nations. Despite the rhetoric, the document avoided naming the United States or Donald Trump directly. It also conspicuously omitted the Russia-Ukraine conflict, providing a diplomatic buffer for Moscow, while opting for vague calls for restraint regarding the escalating tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran.

Internal cohesion remains elusive. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev skipped the summit entirely to pursue economic ties in South Korea, while Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev utilized the platform to navigate a delicate balance between China, Russia, and the West. Tokayev warned of a global arms race and the risks inherent in the race for AI dominance, positioning Kazakhstan as a neutral broker. During a meeting with U.S. special representative Sergio Gor, Tokayev pushed for concrete deal-making and the repeal of restrictive trade status, signaling that Central Asian nations prioritize tangible economic progress over the ideological posturing often found in broader bloc politics.