In The News

On July 31, Uzbek officials gave the US military six months to vacate the Karshi-Khanabad (K-2) air base. While the eviction does not represent a major setback to US strategic interests, it does highlight the tense political atmosphere in Central Asia. The region, comprised largely of former Soviet republics, has been the focus of a quiet tug-of-war between the United States and Russia – now...

Central Asia has historically been a stage for strategic power games involving Russia and Europe. Russia and China, who have inherited the mantle of earlier imperial powers, conceded the US a foothold in the wake of the September 11 attacks when the US needed Central Asian bases for its operation in Afghanistan. But nearly four years later, with the Afghan government still in turmoil and no end...

In an attempt to gain greater access to the energy resources in Central Asia, China is stepping up its efforts to strengthen the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) – a regional security group featuring China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. By developing the SCO into a major regional alliance, says expert Niklas Swanstrom, China is hoping not only to assure...