On Friday, August 15, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. ET, the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative (IPSI) of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, in partnership with the Embassy of Japan in the United States, will host a discussion on a US-Japan global partnership in Central Asia.

Nestled between China and Russia, Central Asia sits at the heart of a growing geopolitical competition. While Beijing and Moscow have presented a united front to continue to exert their influence over the region, Central Asian countries have increasingly recognized the need for diversified partnerships beyond their autocratic neighbors. This presents a unique window of opportunity for the United States and Japan to engage Central Asia through targeted, mutually beneficial areas of cooperation.

During this virtual event, experts from the United States, Japan, and Kazakhstan will explore the current security environment and future opportunities and pathways, as well as obstacles to overcome, for US and Japanese engagement in Central Asia.

This conversation will take place virtually on ACTV and YouTube. To RSVP, please register via the registration box on this page.

Opening remarks

Markus Garlauskas
Director, Indo-Pacific Security Initiative, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Atlantic Council

Speakers

Tomohiko Uyama
Professor, Division of Humanities, Department of Slavic-Eurasian Studies, Laboratory of Slavic-Eurasian Studies,
Hokkaido University

Zhanibek Arynov
Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy,
Nazarbayev University

Joseph Webster
Senior Fellow, Global Energy Center;
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Indo-Pacific Security Initiative, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Atlantic Council

Moderated by

Kyoko Imai
Associate Director, Indo-Pacific Security Initiative,
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Atlantic Council

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The Indo-Pacific Security Initiative (IPSI) informs and shapes the strategies, plans, and policies of the United States and its allies and partners to address the most important rising security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including China’s growing threat to the international order and North Korea’s destabilizing nuclear weapons advancements. IPSI produces innovative analysis, conducts tabletop exercises, hosts public and private convenings, and engages with US, allied, and partner governments, militaries, media, other key private and public-sector stakeholders, and publics.

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