Central Asia Archives

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Between East and West

Central Asia

The Central Asian Republics—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan—are located at the nexus of Russia, China, South Asia, and the Middle East. Leveraging their critical geography, these nations are renewing their role as the crossroads of trade between the West and Asia—resulting in significant economic development, especially in the sectors of energy and natural resources. While moves toward reform and democracy have been made since independence in 1991, corruption and human rights issues remain prevalent throughout the region.

Explore Central Asia

Goodwill gestures and de-Nazification: Decoding Putin’s Ukraine War lexicon

UkraineAlert May 11, 2022

Kazakhstan cancels Victory Day in protest over Putin’s Ukraine War

Kazakhstan’s recent decision to cancel the country’s annual WWII Victory Day parade was a small but significant indication of Nur-Sultan’s opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

New Atlanticist Mar 23, 2022

Not just Russian oligarchs: Britain must block Kazakhstan’s kleptocrats from securing a safe haven

By Francis Shin

There is a strong chance to extend some of the regulatory reforms directed towards Russian oligarchs to also apply to the Nazarbayev family.

Central Asia Economy & Business

EnergySource Jan 20, 2022

By intervening in Kazakhstan, Russia strengthens its hand in China’s energy market

By Paddy Ryan

A Russian-led intervention to quell violent protests in Kazakhstan will undoubtedly come with strings attached. Kazakhstan may fall even further into Russia’s energy orbit, unraveling the country’s carefully crafted multi-vector foreign policy and putting its relationship with China to the test.

Central Asia Energy & Environment

Featured events

Public Event Mon, March 7, 2022 • 2:30 pm EST

Thirty years of US-Kazakhstan relations: The winter crisis and path forward

January’s unrest in Kazakhstan underscores some of the challenges with the country’s economic development and growing geopolitical importance. What does that means for the next thirty years and the country’s relationship with the United States?

Central Asia Geopolitics & Energy Security Political Reform Politics & Diplomacy

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Content

UkraineAlert

Jun 30, 2022

Goodwill gestures and de-Nazification: Decoding Putin’s Ukraine War lexicon

By Peter Dickinson

From “goodwill gestures” to “de-Nazification” and “reclaiming Russian lands,” the Atlantic Council's Peter Dickinson decodes some of the key phrases from the lexicon of Putin’s Ukraine War into plain English.

Central Asia Conflict

In the News

Jun 30, 2022

Graham cited in International Banker on the lack of incentives in the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework

Read the full article here.

Australia Central Asia

BelarusAlert

May 17, 2022

Putin’s only friend: Belarus is Russia’s last remaining post-Soviet ally

By Brian Whitmore

The recent CSTO summit in Moscow highlighted Russia's lack of support even within the former Soviet region while underlining Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka's status as Vladimir Putin's last remaining ally.

Belarus Central Asia

UkraineAlert

May 11, 2022

Kazakhstan cancels Victory Day in protest over Putin’s Ukraine War

By Wilder Alejandro Sánchez, Kamila Auyezova

Kazakhstan's recent decision to cancel the country's annual WWII Victory Day parade was a small but significant indication of Nur-Sultan's opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Central Asia Conflict

In the News

May 1, 2022

Cohen quoted in the National Interest: U.S. sanctions on Russia should not punish Central Asia

Central Asia Economic Sanctions

In the News

Mar 29, 2022

Gadzala Tirziu in The New York Sun on Turkmenistan’s geopolitical significance

On March 18, Scowcroft Center nonresident senior fellow Aleksandra Gadzala Tirziu published a piece in The New York Sun on Turkmenistan’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Russia, and the potential role it might play in global energy politics as some nations look to revamp their global gas supplies.

Central Asia Geopolitics & Energy Security

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2022

Not just Russian oligarchs: Britain must block Kazakhstan’s kleptocrats from securing a safe haven

By Francis Shin

There is a strong chance to extend some of the regulatory reforms directed towards Russian oligarchs to also apply to the Nazarbayev family.

Central Asia Economy & Business

SouthAsiaSource

Mar 16, 2022

Exploring non-traditional export markets: Pakistan and the Central Asian Republics

By Hasan Abbas

Huge potential exists for Pakistan to increase its exports to the Central Asia region.

Central Asia Economy & Business

In the News

Jan 24, 2022

D’Anieri in The Diplomat on how Central Asian states can protect themselves from Russia

By Atlantic Council

Central Asia Inclusive Growth

Op-Ed

Jan 21, 2022

Kazakhstan’s crackdown is a frightening formula for authoritarians

By Doug Klain

“Crises like the brutal crackdown in Kazakhstan show that Moscow and Beijing can work under pressure together efficiently and get the outcome they desire. It’s a formula we should expect them to repeat.” Doug Klain More about our expert

Central Asia China