Central asia in the context of western and russian interests. Recent evidence shows a gradual increase in chinese military activity in central asia, particularly with tajikistan, afghanistan, and pakistan, although china has for years denied any military interest in the region. Russias contribution to regional security and economic cooperation in asia remains mixed. The history of central asia concerns the history of the various peoples that have inhabited central asia. In the russian far east, china has attempted to alleviate russian insecurities by promising investments to boost the regions economic development. As the strategic interests of russia and the united states change in central asia, a creative partnership between the collective security treaty organization csto and the north atlantic treaty organization nato would improve the management of security risks in the region and benefit both sides. Although they currently have many common interests, central asia remains an area of. Apr 05, 2018 central asia has restructured its economic links over the past decade, as china has outpaced russia in the region on trade, investment and infrastructure development. India will have to find space for itself and play a role in accordance with its aspirations of emerging a leading power in asia.
The region has great energy potential and is strategically important, but it is landlocked. Russia maintains its influence in central asia, however, and china so far has been careful to make sure its economic initiatives in the region largely complement moscows interests. Central asia has truly become washingtons final frontier at the furthest geographic reach. American and russian interests in the stability of central asia are challenged by the extreme domestic fragility of the states.
Yet, central asia remains integral to russia s national interests, and moscow wants to strengthen its position there. According to a critical geopolitics perspe ctive, russias interests toward central asia have been complex and changing. Circumstances in and beyond the region are driving a more committed approach in moscow. Asia, central growing u s security interests in central asia. Trenin, russias spheres of interest, not influence. Mar 27, 2012 the us interests in afghanistan and central asia. Nov 22, 20 russian authorities do not perceive russias relations with china in central asia as that of competition. The monograph takes a critical look at the sinorussian partnership and points to differences on energy and economic integration in central asia, despite common interests in maintaining regime.
The aridity of the region makes agriculture difficult and distance from the sea cut it off from much trade. After providing background on the development of u. Russia, china, and the united states in central asia. The current strategy is the basic strategic planning document defining the russian federations national interests and strategic national priorities, objectives, tasks, and measures in the sphere of domestic and foreign policy aimed at strengthening the russian. Still, recent developments in chinarussia militarytomilitary relations have important implications for u. Russkiy turkestan was the western part of turkestan within the russian empires central asian territories, and was administered as a krai or governorgeneralship. The geopolitical situation in central asia has changed considerably and the republics in the region repeatedly expressed their interest in. Control over the transportation of energy resources from central asia to europe is a crucial determinant in russia s energy and pipeline policies. Oct 01, 2014 china and russias great game in central asia.
Chapter four then looks at turkmenistan in particular, as a case study in the new geopolitics of energy. Freire describes the facilitation of russian interests in central asia as a simultaneous process of engagement and disengagement that has introduced a great degree of ambiguity in the region. What central asia means to the united states the diplomat. Pdf russias foreign policy in central asia researchgate. Sma tradoc white paper russian strategic intentions nsi. Chinas expanding commercial interests in central asia, the russian far. Russian strategy toward central asia generates great interest in western academic and policy circles, but few analytical nuances. Central asia has restructured its economic links over the past decade, as china has outpaced russia in the region on trade, investment and infrastructure development. Aug 15, 2002 american and russian interests in the stability of central asia are challenged by the extreme domestic fragility of the states. Russias role and interests in central asia the web site cannot be. Unpacking russias new national security strategy center. One is of its gas pipeline routes through south asia, the second is security factor related to afghanistan including entrance of militants in.
To what extent does china obstruct russian plans regarding central asia. Pdf russian foreign policy towards central asia researchgate. Interests congressional research service 2 in late february 2014, russian defense minister sergey shoygu announced that additional. The russian federations national security strategy i. Apr 24, 2012 the collapse of the soviet union in 1991 reversed a process that had been under way since the russian empires emergence in the 17th century. China, the united states, and the future of central asia. I think they have a strategic understanding and a certain division of zones, an understanding of the role of russia and china in central asia.
On december 31, 2015, russian president vladimir putin approved a new national security strategy for his country. Russian national security strategy, december 2015 fulltext. It comprised the oasis region to the south of the kazakh steppe, but not the protectorates of the emirate of bukhara and the khanate of khiva. For many in russia, stability in central asia essentially means the absence of major regional conflicts that may pose threats to the. He argues that despite central asian ire at russian activities in ukraine, russian influence in the area remains high, and us policy makers should take a carefully moderated approach to engagement in. Interests congressional research service 1 introduction the central asian regionbordering regional powers russia, china, and iranis an ageold. For much of the postsoviet period, central asia has been a backwater of russian foreign policy. Russian economic interests in central asia mainly work under the assumption that by strengthening economic cooperation with central asia, it will. 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, germany, japan and others. Interests and central asia energy security ariel cohen, ph. Whether the aim is to give russia and the world a holiday gift or to avoid notice, this practice effectively ensures that not a few russiawatchers face a. The monograph takes a critical look at the sino russian partnership and points to differences on energy and economic integration in central asia, despite common interests in maintaining regime security and limiting u.
Johannes linn discusses chinas and russias growing support for economic integration in central asia, specifically in kazahkstah, which is seen as a potential driver of regional and global. China is unlikely to accept a redefinition of russian interests that comes at its expense. This commission examined activities of the shanghai cooperation organization since its inception in 2001 and its effects on the u. Although kazakhstan is an equally important energy player in central asia, its resources consist. Jun 25, 20 the main contradictionreflected in political practices is, on the one hand, the recognition of exceptionalimportance of central asia on the scale of russian foreign policy interests whichhas already become a truism, and, on the other hand, the absence of a developedconcept of comprehensive measures that facilitate building a longterm. At present, it seems rather difficult to differentiate between russian economic interests in central asia and wider geopolitical considerations, to identify the degree of preparedness to pursue a moneylosing policy that does not yield immediate financial gains. The monograph takes a critical look at the sinorussian partnership and points to differences on energy and economic integration in central asia, despite common interests in maintaining regime security and limiting u. Russian policy in central asia and the caucasus has in recent years been shaped by three divergent perspectives. 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. A graduate field will include a variety of topics in russian history from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. The monograph points out that weak regional security. Sep 17, 20 johannes linn discusses chinas and russias growing support for economic integration in central asia, specifically in kazahkstah, which is seen as a potential driver of regional and global. Russias sale of su35 fighter jets to china deliveries of which began in december 2016 will help the.
The first part analyses the main benefits of this giant project. With the partial exception of russia, the interests of contemporary players of the great game in central asia are rather different than those of their nineteenthcentury predecessors. The eu has long been central asias biggest trading partner for decades, but it was surged past by china in 2010. Commonwealth of independent states cis was a space of vital interest. Russia and the separatists in eastern ukraine crisis group. Russia and china in central asia, the russian far east, and the arctic unlikely course correction in russias relationship with the west, the part nership will strengthen. The main contradictionreflected in political practices is, on the one hand, the recognition of exceptionalimportance of central asia on the scale of russian foreign policy interests whichhas already become a truism, and, on the other hand, the absence of a developedconcept of comprehensive measures that facilitate building a longterm. The united states has become involved in central asia as part of the war on terrorism and u.
The sinorussian partnership may be tempered by unfulfilled expectations on both sides. How much do indian and russian interests converge in the. Pdf sinorussian relations in central asia since the end. Russian strategic interests in south asia scholar research. The viability of russias assertive approach, however, depends on many factors, not least the health of the russian economy. Russian interests in the region are primarily related to control over energy resources. Sinorussian geopolitical interests in central asia and south caucasus 145 bull. The main research topic is the impact of the chinese new silk road project on the russian interests in one of the zones of its strongest traditional influence central asian countries. The lifestyle of such people has been determined primarily by the areas climate and geography. Expanding vistas of partnership article pdf available in asian journal of political science 4no. The us interests in afghanistan and central asia russia beyond. Pdf indias strategic interests in central asia in the post. 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. Central asias shifting economic ties from russia toward china.
Soviet central asia and the russian far easttendencies that still linger in. In practical terms, this pointed to the absence of a unified strategic goal that has cast new questions on moscows goals and capabilities since the. Central asia fit within contemporary russian foreign policy. Pdf the paper analyzes sinorussian relations in central asia since the collapse of the soviet union. The potential for cooperation is greater because russia, china, and especially the united. Chinas expanding commercial interests in central asia, the russian far east, and the arctic are likely increasing the competitiveness of chinese firms on a global scale.
Moreover, incorporation of central asia into the list. Central asia, once firmly in the soviet unions sphere, is increasingly out of the kremlins reach, and the united states and china have filled the void as russian influence has faded. Michael rywkin project director, russia and central asia. The united states is vitally interested in the transition of the central asian states to democracy and to market economies.
Russian strategic interests in south asia are three dimensional. The changing logic of russian strategy in central asia. In practical terms, this pointed to the absence of a unified strategic goal that has cast new questions on moscows goals and capabilities since the post911 period. Pdf central asia in the context of western and russian. Russias central asia policy and the role of russian nationalism.
The caspian sea basin, american foreign policy interests, april 1997. Following the peak of russian arms sales to china in 20052006, defense ties entered a coolingoff. The us interests in afghanistan and central asia russia. In the past five years, real and present dangers to u. This included the spread of buddhism from india to central asia and beyond, and sufism from central asia to india. Chinarussia relations in central asia the asan forum. While the postsoviet region continues to be a focal point for russian foreign policy, moscow is also recalibrating its approach to the u. Mar 06, 2019 freire describes the facilitation of russian interests in central asia as a simultaneous process of engagement and disengagement that has introduced a great degree of ambiguity in the region. Depending on the source, russia is often characterized as wanting to dominate or control the region, to reconstitute the soviet union, or to obsessively counter the influence of the west andor a rising china. Central asia in the context of w estern and russian interests 11 l europe en formation n. Economic cooperation between russia and central asian countries. Sinorussian geopolitical interests in central asia and south. 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. Russian national security strategy, december 2015 full.
Record oil prices in 2006 highlighted russias potential position as a key energy supplier, but the governments priority has been on strengthening its hold over the industry, increasingly to the detriment of its foreign energy partners. Realizing indias strategic interests in central asia. Yet, central asia remains integral to russias national interests, and moscow wants to strengthen its position there. Download pdf u s interests in central asia free online. Thus far, russia and china have successfully managed their differences in central asia, the russian far east, and the arctic, but potentially divergent interests remain over the long term. Russian authorities do not perceive russias relations with china in central asia as that of competition. The region is also a critical partner in the war on terrorism.
Moreover, incorporation of central asia into the list of priority interests, despite the mention of the region in conceptual documents, did not appear to be substantiated by adequately convincing arguments justifying the necessity to work out a separate strategy of the russian federation in central asia. Indias strategic interests in central asia in the postsoviet years. Nevertheless, russia is juggling many options, and minsk remains a vital possible path to resolution. But the greatest threat to the west of the sinorussian partnership emanates from their efforts to adjust the international system to their advantage. A 2015 ceasefire signed in minsk is largely holding in eastern ukraine, while the most likely outcome is a brittle, longterm frozen conflict. The russian conquest of central asia took place in the second half of the nineteenth century. Central asia is an important region in the world due to its geopolitical location and rich energy resources. So china implements its infrastructure and transit projects, and russia cannot resist in any obvious way. China and russias great game in central asia the national. For a long time russia has been enjoying monopsony position in central asian energy market. It was ultimately to incorporate four general elements. Central asia is critical to putins aim of establishing russia as the leading player in the eurasian. New signs of chinese military interest in central asia.
59 1026 1495 443 1566 1369 1206 566 382 879 1231 154 1552 633 1262 1161 2 835 529 932 1195 38 287 1077 800 912 1109 405 1308 1144 1525 1141 226 1362 1122 1546 1103 1496 1014 709 635 122 532 1185 1139 493 1223 1030