Country
Turkmenistan
South Korean President Yoon Sweeping Through Central Asia
By Catherine Putz
Yoon follows in the footsteps of his two predecessors in traveling to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan this week.
Uzbekistan and the New Realities of Trans-Afghan Trade
By Nargiza Umarova
Significant changes in the international logistics system are fueling the development of trans-Afghan routes, but Uzbekistan may have to deal with increased competition.
Germany’s Zeitenwende: Turning Toward Central Asia?
By Timon Ostermeier and Eldaniz Gusseinov
Bilateral contacts between Berlin and the region have intensified considerably since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but many challenges remain.
Competing Digital Futures: Europe and China in Central Asia’s Tech Development
By Andrew Gundal and Eldaniz Gusseinov
Both the EU and China aim to establish technological leadership in Central Asia, but their focuses differ.
Diplomatic Engagement in Central Asia on the Rise
By Aizada Nuriddenova and Zhanibek Arynov
The number of interactions between high-level Central Asian officials has visibly increased since 2015, from 60 interactions that year to 158 in 2023.
How Authoritarian Oppression Breeds Religious Extremism in Central Asia
By Kashif Hasan Khan and Marin Ekstrom
The overwhelmingly authoritarian governments in Central Asia have utilized severe repression against Islamist movements – extremist or not.
Central Asian Presidents to be ‘Guests of Honor’ for Russian Victory Day Parade
By Catherine Putz
For the second year in a row, Central Asia’s leaders are making the trek to Moscow to mark a holiday of fleeting relevance in the region.
US Religious Freedom Watchdog Recommends Kyrgyzstan for Special Watch List
By Catherine Putz
For the first time, all five Central Asian states are named in some fashion in the annual USCIRF report for violating religious freedoms.
UK Foreign Secretary’s Visit to Central Asia: Deciphered
By Sophia Nina Burna-Asefi
What did U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron’s trip across Central Asia achieve?
UK Foreign Secretary’s Visit to Central Asia and Mongolia: An Urgent To-Do List
By Sophia Nina Burna-Asefi
David Cameron is on a six-nation tour of Central Asia, underscoring the U.K.'s reinvigorated engagement with the region.
Turkmenistan’s Afghanistan Policy: Balancing Risks and Untapped Opportunities
By Eldaniz Gusseinov
Ashgabat has a delicate balance to maintain between hewing to its traditional neutrality and mitigating potential threats from Afghanistan.
What’s Behind Central Asia’s Umrah Fever?
By Niginakhon Saida
As long as people have limited opportunities in the socioeconomic and political arenas, and adherence to a religious lifestyle is restricted, pilgrimages will remain as an accessible means of self-fulfillment.