During a broadcast on Alpha Radio and SB TV, while discussing the results of the EAEU summit in Minsk, analyst Aleksei Avdonin said:
"The EAEU is attracting other countries. Let’s say that observer countries were also present at this forum, and they expressed a desire to become members of the EAEU."
At the time of this statement — June 30, 2025 — the EAEU had three observer countries: Moldova (since 2018), Cuba, and Uzbekistan (since 2020).
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel did attend the summit, but in his public remarks, he spoke only in general terms about partnership over the next few years. The Cuban leader did not make any statements about wanting to join the EAEU.
The situation with Uzbekistan is even more telling. Since 2020, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has openly described his country’s role as that of an observer — Uzbekistan is weighing the pros and cons of the union. No new statements were made at the June summit. Although, during a session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council on June 27, 2025, Alexander Lukashenko invited him to join: "You have long been a friend of the EurAsEC. You know, we are always waiting for you to join the EAEU as a full member of our union. We would be happy to see that."
However, this could complicate Uzbekistan’s bid to join the World Trade Organization, a process Tashkent is actively pursuing.
As for Moldova, the country is moving in the opposite direction. At the end of 2024, a referendum cemented the country’s strategic goal of joining the European Union in its constitution. This rules out the possibility of joining the EAEU.
However, there are countries that have shown real interest in the EAEU. Myanmar and Nicaragua have applied for observer status. This would allow them to attend meetings and access public documents, but it does not mean automatic membership.
