The independence of Central Asian countries in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union brought significant changes to the region. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the five Soviet socialist republics in Central Asia—Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan—obtained their independence. These nations then became sovereign states.
These changes led to new challenges and opportunities, as the newly independent states began navigating their own paths in the international arena. They had to build their own institutions and economies. These countries were integrated into the Soviet system through planned economies and improved communication. The dissolution of the Soviet Union caused economic chaos and disorder in most of the former Soviet republics. The long-term effects of this transition continue to shape the region.