Blog
Crossroads Asia
Mongolia’s Prime Minister Looks to Boost All-Important Economic Ties With China
By Sumiya Chuluunbaatar
Mongolia and China seem to be moving forward on long-hoped-for cross-border infrastructure and joint energy projects, while stepping up technology cooperation.
Marco Polo and the Mongol Empire’s Strategic Diplomacy
By Bolor Lkhaajav
Marco Polo, while the most famous today, was just one of many emissaries bridging Medieval Europe and the Mongol Empire.
C5+Trump: Getting the US Down to Business in Central Asia
By Eric Rudenshiold
The region has become more connected to Europe and less dependent on Russia and China than when Trump was last in office.
Kazakhstan’s BRICS Conundrum
By Ayushi Saini and Rajoli Siddharth Jayaprakash
Astana has emphasized its commitment to strengthening its role as a close partner of BRICS while also stating that it will not seek membership.
On Press Day, Kyrgyz Authorities Urge Journalists To Focus on Positive News
By Catherine Putz
“Let’s write about our country in a positive light and try to focus less on negative news,” Cabinet head Akylbek Japarov said.
Central Asian Leaders Swift to Send Congratulatory Notes to Trump
By Catherine Putz
The messages provide a glimpse as to what the Central Asian states wish to see from the next U.S. administration and how they aim to position themselves.
The Men Jailed in Uzbekistan for Fighting Russia’s War in Ukraine
By Catherine Putz
The stories of three men jailed this year in Uzbekistan for taking part in Russia’s war in Ukraine together tell a tale of desperation and exploitation.
Chinese Investment in Kazakhstan Deepens With $2.5 Billion in New Deals
By Catherine Putz
Although branded as commercial deals, most of the agreements involve a steel and mining company recently acquired and renamed by a state-owned private equity firm in the wake of a tragic mining accident.
Russia Still a Cold Front for Central Asian Migrants
By Niginakhon Saida
Do Russian demands for stricter measures against labor migrants mark a shift in Moscow’s relationship with Central Asia?
Germany to Deport Another Tajik Group 24 Activist
By Catherine Putz
Over the last decade, Tajikistan has pursued Group 24 activists around the world.
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Receives Supreme Decoration From Mongolia
By Bolor Lkhaajav
The decision was as much about honoring Ban as sending a message about Mongolia's commitment to the United Nations and its contribution to global goals.
Additional Kazakh and Uzbek Companies Hit With Russia-Related Sanctions
By Catherine Putz
Russia is increasingly reliant on transnational schemes to circumvent sanctions, which occasionally run through Central Asia.