Furthermore, it links the middle east with south east asia and forms the most important strategic area bordering the indian ocean. The us department of state specified in its comments that this amount is appropriated for assistance for a democratic ukraine and other countries, particularly, in central asia, to counter russian aggression. Pdf russia, china, and the united states in central asia. New frontiers 9 china needs to engage the region in a more effective and coherent way, without being seen as too great a threat in moscow and the regional capitals. Central asia has always been the strategic and commercial crossroad of civilizations between europe and asia. Central asias shifting economic ties from russia toward china. Chinas strategic relationship with central asia has grown expansively over the past decade, symbolized by both the 1996 founding of the shanghai five, which in june 2001 became the shanghai cooperation organization, and with the signing of the chinarussia friendship treaty in july 2001. Central asia is a region which stretches from the caspian sea in the west to china and mongolia in the east, and from afghanistan and iran in the south to russia in the north. Interests congressional research service summary the central asian states kazakhstan, kyrgyzstan, tajikistan, turkmenistan, and uzbekistan face common security challenges from crime, corruption, terrorism, and faltering commitments to economic and democratic reforms. Aug 15, 2002 in spite of the construction in 2002 of bases in central asia to support the military campaign in afghanistan, the primary u. March 18, 2015 the security dimension of the chinacentral. Expanding vistas of partnership article pdf available in asian journal of political science 4no. Embassy in afghanistan attacked on 911 anniversary by ben whedon september 11, 2019 americas war in afghanistan is now about only one thing.
What central asia means to the united states the diplomat. The extent and potential for confrontation between the major powers is significantly lower in central asia than in the asiapacific region apr, eastern europe or the middle east. Asia links to major attractions and points of interest. The chinacentral asia pipeline is comprised of three lines a, b nd a. The author assesses the interests of the united states in central asia and the challenges to them. John moen is a cartographer who along with his wife are the orignal founders of. The republics of central asia became more important to united states when u. The present relationship between china and central asia is defined by geographic, political, economic and security factors. The potential for cooperation is greater because russia, china, and especially the united.
Chinese security focus is very much centered on the united states, asia pacific, and even europe before central asia. Rising oil prices and growth in the russian economy gave russia the ability to increase. Pdf indias strategic interests in central asia in the. The republics of central asia, which received comparatively little attention from the united states in their first ten years of independence, suddenly increased in value when the united states deployed forces and set up bases of operation in the region in support of operation enduring freedom.
It is also colloquially referred to as the stans as the countries generally considered to be. May 05, 2017 the us and thailands overlapping interests. Central asia is the frontier of american policymaking, with complex challenges in a strategically vital region but no easy way to address them. After the demise of the soviet union, chinas preferred strategy was to pursue an increased but weak multilateralism in the region, including russia. Interests in central asia and the challenges to them. The geopolitical situation in central asia has changed considerably and the republics in the region repeatedly expressed their interest in developing relations with russia, china, the usa, the eu. The region consists of the former soviet republics of kazakhstan, kyrgyzstan, tajikistan, turkmenistan, and uzbekistan. Clearly stipulating american interests and policies in the region can help us understand how we can better operate in asia.
Pdf this monograph explores the appearance and reality of a consolidation of antiu. United states foreign policy in the states of central asia. The us old friend in southeast asia geopolitical futures. The united states primary strategic interest in this region is to build a more stable and prosperous central asia that is free to pursue political, economic, and security interests with a variety of partners on its own terms. The united states primary strategic interest in this region is to build a more stable and prosperous central asia that is free to pursue political. Central asias economic activity is centred on irrigated agriculture in the south and on heavy and light industry and mining in kazakhstan. A 2012 defense paper issued by us department of defense lists south asia among the major critical regions for the united states. Threats to stability emanating from the region, the overall strategic significance of south asia, and several notable geopolitical shifts. Central asia, central region of asia, extending from the caspian sea in the west to the border of western china in the east. In central asia last year, russia was the leading foreign power that facilitated the u. Moreover, moscows interest, such as it is, has been largely derivative. Indias strategic interests in central asia in the postsoviet years.
Rising oil prices and growth in the russian economy gave russia the ability to increase their economic and military strength in central asia. Chinas changing role in central asia and implications for. Both china and the us have a number of common interests to pursue such as securing energy supplies, antiterrorism and 2 in this paper, central asia refers to kazakhstan, kyrgyzstan, uzbekistan, turkmenistan and tajikistan. In terms of geography, china and central asia are neighbors. While its energy resources and proximity to russia, iran, and china did require some u. Unlike east asia, central asia is an area free from a us dominated regional order. To be sure, negative trends persist in several countries, but in every case the country is engaged also in positive efforts that promise to strengthen the regional economy and open it to international forces of development. The united states s approach to central asia, of course, will not be made in a vacuum. Firstly, it helps to improve the chinaus relationship. But while interactions with the united states are seen as a zero sum game, the situation vis avis ca is very different. Indiasbenign 19 denying that us was playing zerosum game in central asia, former us secretary rice once said this was not some kind of contest for the affection of kazakhstan between the countries of the region.
Several of these developments are of direct interest to the united states. The united states and central asia after 2014 csis. Central asia in the context of western and russian interests. For the nations of central asia, china is an outlet to the sea, while the countries. Jan 20, 2015 the terrorist elements that the united states had itself created would cause the 911 incident in the united states in 2001 and change the whole direction of us foreign policy regarding south asia. Three major factors amplify the importance of placing south asia on the crowded front burner of u. Jan 25, 2016 all these developments provide the backdrop for u. The united statess approach to central asia, of course, will not be made in a vacuum. India has supported the chhabar port development in iran along with a northsouth highway in the easte.
It is bounded on the north by russia and on the south by iran, afghanistan, and china. Uschina cooperation, afghanistan, pakistan, istanbul process, silk road economic belt, 21st century maritime silk road, quadrilateral coordination group article china u. Seventyfive percent of the worlds population lives in eurasia and, as zbigniew brzezinski notes, threefourths of the worlds energy. Apr, 2016 indiasbenign 19 denying that us was playing zerosum game in central asia, former us secretary rice once said this was not some kind of contest for the affection of kazakhstan between the countries of the region. The united states interests in thailand have remained fundamentally unchanged since the end of world war ii, although thailand is now part of the u. Interests congressional research service 1 most recent developments visiting uzbekistan on march 1619, 2014, deputy assistant secretary of state fatema sumar reportedly stressed that the united. In the past five years, real and present dangers to u. Chinas emergence in central asia center for strategic.
Furthermore, china has started to become a player, although until now only tentatively, in central asias security landscape. In order for the united states and central asia to both benefit from each other as much as possible, it. Xinjiang is a sovereignty issue, and therefore a core interest. The landmark chinacentral asia natural gas pipeline, inaugurated in december 2009, effectively broke the near monopoly that russias exercised gazprom across the region. Interests congressional research service 1 most recent developments visiting uzbekistan on march 1619, 2014, deputy assistant secretary of state fatema sumar reportedly stressed that the united states wanted to deepen its cooperation with the country. Chinas changing role in central asia and implications. Apr 05, 2018 central asia has undergone a significant economic transformation in recent years as trade and investment in the region have shifted away from russia and toward china. The terrorist elements that the united states had itself created would cause the 911 incident in the united states in 2001 and change the whole direction of us foreign policy regarding south asia.
Since, the russian energy giant has effectively ceded the region to china and cnpc. Central asia is at the center of a supercontinent whose strategic importance is manyfold. Chinas response to the complex challenges on its western borders during the past two decades has been to adopt an empty fortress strategy, whereby china boldly projects an image of considerable strength in central and south asia to mask serious frailty. Central asia has featured primarily as a subset of russian strategic design, and as a secondary theater of moscows relations with the united states. Russia remains a major economic force in central asia, and chinas rise in the region complements its interests in many ways or at least doesnt directly contradict them. China to central asia, west asia, and europe by land transportation and to southeast asia, south asia, and east africa by ship. This fact sheets sets out some of the issues involved. Finally, as the us rebalances to east asia, china seeks strategic space to the. The central asia and caspian region is blessed with abundant oil and gas that can enhance the lives of the regions residents, and provide energy for growth in both europe and asia.
Sep 16, 2016 what central asia means to the united states. The region consists of the former soviet republics of kazakhstan, uzbekistan, tajikistan, kyrgyzstan, and. This is despite cas geographical proximity, the instability of the region, and the growing problem. Bonds john ammera, stijn claessensb, alexandra tabovaa, caleb wroblewskia june 19, 2018 abstract we analyze how interest rates a. The aftermath of september 11, 2001 brought the us military to central asia and revitalized russian interest in kazakhstan, kyrgyzstan, tajikistan, turkmenistan and uzbekistan.
Its proximity to russia, china, iran, india, and pakistan. China and russias great game in central asia the national. This is the basis behind the policy of china towards central asian countries. Indeed, us interests derive, first of all, from central asias proxim ity to russia and china. Oct 01, 2014 china and russias great game in central asia. Obor similarly intends to provide a platform that will facilitate more economic interaction among countries along the modern silk road, enabling them to benefit from increased trade. Nov 15, 2006 in the past five years, real and present dangers to u. In spite of the construction in 2002 of bases in central asia to support the military campaign in afghanistan, the primary u. Central asia has undergone a significant economic transformation in recent years as trade and investment in the region have shifted away from russia and toward china. Home country interest rates and international investment. For the united states, central asia is a region of both growing importance and of growing challenge. Feb 29, 2012 central asia is the frontier of american policymaking, with complex challenges in a strategically vital region but no easy way to address them. Home country interest rates and international investment in u.
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