The Diplomat | Author
Joe Luc Barnes
Joe Luc Barnes is a British journalist and author who focuses on the countries of the former Soviet Union.
Joe has a master’s degree in Russian and East European Politics from the University of Oxford. His book, “Farewell to Russia: A Journey Through The Former USSR” will be published by Elliott and Thompson in Spring 2026.
April 07, 2025
With Successful Summit, the EU and Central Asia Take Tentative Steps Closer
By Joe Luc Barnes
Turbulence in the wider geopolitical sea has, in many ways, cleared Europe’s path to Central Asia.
March 21, 2025
Kazakhstan’s Bid For AI Sovereignty
By Joe Luc Barnes
Astana is talking a big game on artificial intelligence, but can it deliver?
February 11, 2025
Hope and Fear on the Kyrgyz-Tajik Border
By Joe Luc Barnes and Alibek Mukambaev
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are closing in on the conclusion of their long-running border dispute. What does the prospect mean to locals?
December 24, 2024
Space Oddity: At 70, is the Baikonur Cosmodrome Nearing Retirement?
By Joe Luc Barnes
The septuagenarian space port proves as reliable as ever, but geopolitics and funding mean that its future at the forefront of space exploration is far from guaranteed.
November 21, 2024
Kyrgyzstan-US Relations: 10 Years After the Closure of Manas Air Base
By Joe Luc Barnes
In hindsight, the Manas base marked the apogee of American influence in Kyrgyzstan.
November 09, 2024
Why Has High Speed Rail Failed in Kazakhstan?
By Joe Luc Barnes
Kazakhstan once harbored grand plans for a high-speed rail network. While its neighbors have pushed ahead with such projects, why has HSR fallen out of favor in Astana?
November 01, 2024
Is Uzbekistan’s EAEU Membership Dead in the Water?
By Joe Luc Barnes
Despite Moscow’s diplomatic overtures, Uzbekistan announced on October 17 that it will not be pursuing full membership in the Eurasian Economic Union.
October 02, 2024
Kyrgyzstan’s New North-South Highway Nears Completion
By Joe Luc Barnes
Work on Kyrgyzstan’s North-South Alternative Highway, an ambitious project to speed up travel throughout the mountainous country and help connect its disparate regions, may finally be coming to an end.
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