Central Asia

At the Samarkand Summit, Central Asia articulated its priorities with cohesion and strategic clarity and Europe made clear its interest in translating these ideas into practical steps.

“While geopolitical tensions and economic disruptions may have discouraged others from collaborating, Kazakhstan understands that the road ahead is one we must walk together.”

The Samarkand summit marks a watershed moment in EU-Central Asia relations at a time when the international order is undergoing a fundamental realignment.

Now that the U.S. is siding with Russia, where does that leave Central Asia? 

But a proposed increase from 1.4 million tons to 2.2 million tons is just a drop in the bucket compared to the volumes Kazakhstan exports via Russia-based pipelines. 

The presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are expected to meet for their first-ever trilateral summit on March 31.

Economic, political, and environmental trends are accelerating Central Asia’s shift to EVs, and Chinese firms are at the forefront.

The canal's completion could exacerbate regional conflict, but also presents an opportunity for regional cooperation. 

How did I do on my outlook for Central Asia 2024? 

Central Asia’s evolving geopolitical role is not just about balancing external actors; it is about leveraging these partnerships to pursue their own national and elite interests. 

Although Central Asia has demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, the path to a “green transition” remains fraught with obstacles.

Foreign investment has long been a focus for Central Asia, but the region's governments are increasingly looking to their neighbors.

The region has become more connected to Europe and less dependent on Russia and China than when Trump was last in office. 

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.

While it may not yet be a powerful alliance, BRICS has the potential to be an attractive alternative for the countries of the Global South to pursue their national interests.

Russian politicians and commentators challenging Central Asian sovereignty unmask a continuous view of the region as part of Russia’s domain.

The Central Asian countries are caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and it showed in their most recent UNGA speeches.

China’s growing footprint in South and Central Asia has been made possible by the influx of grants, loans, mergers, and economic concessions for projects.

The U.S. presidential elections have always had a significant impact on the foreign policies of various countries, including relations with the states of Central Asia.     

As Central Asian governments tighten restrictions on the hijab in the name of upholding secularism, devout Muslim women find themselves forced to navigate an increasingly difficult choice between their faith and the law.

Central Asian nations are forming closer alliances with each other in light of the Russo-Ukrainian War, and these efforts are reflected in their recent UNGA speeches.

Sports diplomacy gets a boost as Kazakhstan amps up to host the 5th World Nomad Games in September.

An optimal way of mitigating the challenges Central Asia faces, Mirziyoyev argued, is regional integration. 

The Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue, launched in 2004 at the ministerial level, will take engagement to the top with a leaders’ summit on August 9.