Russia in Central Asia

30 years on from the dissolution of the USSR, Central Asian states are a case study in hedging and balancing between global superpowers.

Among Russian officials, 2021 was a year of heightened sensitivity to the Russian language in Central Asia.

A prominent Russian analyst thinks the high point of Sino-Russian cooperation has passed.

A new Wall Street Journal report suggests that Putin offered Russian bases for the U.S. to use to monitor Afghanistan. It’s not at all clear if the offer was genuine. 

Moscow is also reported to be open to some kind of cooperation with the U.S., though far short of American bases in Central Asia.

With Afghan forces fleeing into Tajikistan and the Taliban managing a border crossing, Dushanbe has reportedly called on its CSTO partners for aid.

Five months after controversial comments regarding Kazakh territory, Lavrov dismisses them as coming from deputies “chasing after sensations.”

The Russian presence in Central Asia, predicated on the threats from Afghanistan, stymies the political and economic development of the region.

In September, Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov again mentioned Russia’s participation in the long-delayed project.

China and Russia are partners in Central Asia, but their cooperative efforts are not as robust as they often claim.

Beijing is well positioned to continue growing its influence in Central Asia, though some challenges remain ahead.

China’s rise in Central Asia has been swift.