Russia in Central Asia

Russia's efforts to establish "regional air defense systems" within the existing CIS joint air defense system are not new.

Growing divisions within the CSTO -- over Ukraine, Afghanistan, and various internal disputes -- may have serious implications for the region’s security architecture.

Moscow denies that Central Asians are being conscripted into the Russian military, but the risk is real.

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its role as a security guarantor for Central Asia and the Caucasus is in serious doubt.

In a press conference with Central Asian media outlets, the Ukrainian foreign minister urged the region: “don’t let Russia use you.”

The recent comment from Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu echoes sentiments stated before, but it's not clear if it means anything in a practical sense.

The warm welcome in Dushanbe and meetings around the Caspian table in Ashgabat were a chance for Putin to reaffirm his network of partners at a critical moment.

The China-Russia soft power rivalry in Uzbekistan plays out most clearly via language and education programs.

If the EAEU is simply an economic project, the current circumstances will strain its relevance as members suffer the consequences of close ties to the Russian economy.

Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov gave one of the most direct refutations from a Central Asian official of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

"Everyone should be concerned," says Dr. Erica Marat, about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Putin's wider aims.