Central Asia
Nuclear Power in Central Asia: The New “New Thing”?
The Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan are exploring the development of nuclear power. Last fall, Kazakhstan passed a controversial referendum to build a nuclear power plant. In...
Iran and Turkmenistan’s Relationship Steadily Improves
Since Ebrahim Raisi became Iran’s president, Tehran has pursued a “Neighbors First” foreign policy strategy. With the Islamic Republic under continued Western sanctions and other forms of pressure, Tehran has...
The West Must Stop Turning Away Willing Diplomatic Partners
The U.S.-led international system is under attack. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Chinese saber-rattling over Taiwan, and war in Gaza are all symptoms of America’s eroding power. At such a time,...
In Sanctions Enforcement, Follow Central-Asia’s Middle Corridor
As the Suez Canal becomes a new front in the Israel-Hamas conflict and the Red Sea is a “no-go zone” for most vessels, geopolitics is casting a shadow over the...
Armenia and Azerbaijan are Finally Talking Directly. Is Peace Next?
Earlier this week, Azerbaijan was elected unanimously by UN member states to serve as the host country for COP29—the world’s premier climate change summit or “conference of the parties”—which will...
Amid Global Transitions, Kazakhstan is an Emerging Swing Player
From the landmark Biden-Xi summit in San Francisco to the upcoming COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, November is proving to be a busy month for global diplomacy. Both...
Kazakhstan’s Lessons for the Climate Transition
As the world turns its attention to the upcoming COP28 in Dubai, a pivotal narrative unfolds in Central Asia, particularly in Kazakhstan, where the fight against climate change is not...
Increased Collaboration Between Turkic States Can Benefit Eurasia
In today’s geopolitical landscape, it might seem that the world is becoming increasingly fragmented and divided. While this perception might hold true for global powers, a significant shift is quietly...
Strong Kazakh National Identity Is an Asset for U.S. Strategy in Central Asia
Kazakhstan’s resilience to aggressive Russia and expansive China rises with the ethnic Kazakh population demographic boom.
Blinken’s Central Asia Visit Reinforces U.S. Blunders in the Region
Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently finished his first tour of Central Asia. His visit began in Astana, Kazakhstan, where he met with the C5+1 Foreign Ministers during a C5...
The EU Must Hold Both Azerbaijan and Armenia Accountable
The EU’s condemnation this week of a video—released now but purportedly recorded a month ago—of Azerbaijani soldiers fighting Armenian civilians at a time when the two countries narrowly averted full-blown war...
Kazakhstan to Accept Russian Draft Dodgers
Kazakh president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced in a speech on Tuesday that his government would take in and help to resettle tens of thousands of Russian citizens fleeing a military draft—a...