More: Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan’s Three Roads to the Sea – and None Runs Through Afghanistan
A new Gulf-backed rail memorandum reveals Tashkent's efforts to keep the Trans-Afghan option alive, while seeking alternatives to conflict with Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The transport...
Central Asia is Sitting on a Mineral Goldmine. But who will actually get rich?
The world wants Central Asia’s critical minerals. The region’s real challenge is ensuring it does not remain the place where the digging happens while...
Central Asia’s Next Great Game will be fought over Water, not Oil
Afghanistan’s Qosh Tepa Canal is forcing Central Asia to confront a dangerous question: when a river crosses borders, who gets to decide who drinks...
From Consultations to Action: Central Asia at a Crossroads
The leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan met in the Caspian resort of Avaza, Turkmenistan, on October 8, 2026, for the...
Rubio Visits Uzbekistan to Deepen US Ties With Central Asia Amid Geopolitical Rivalry
Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Uzbekistan to meet with foreign ministers from five Central Asian countries: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. This...
Rubio in Samarkand: Why Central Asia Now Treats US Sanctions as a Bargaining Chip
A Waiver Two Days Before Samarkand
Marco Rubio landed in Samarkand on Sunday for his first trip to Central Asia as secretary of state, with...
The importance of Secretary Rubio’s trip to Uzbekistan
Secretary Marco Rubio will visit Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in “mid-October” to attend a C5+1 summit to engage the Central Asian region. He will also lead...
Between Washington and Beijing: Can Central Asia Preserve Its Multi-Vector Technology Policy?
The United States is preparing to tell dozens of partner countries that they may have to choose between American and Chinese approaches to cooperation...
Understanding the CKU Railway: Kyrgyzstan Beyond the Debt Trap Narrative
The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railways has been in the spotlight recently. Many observers have highlighted the project, which connects trade routes from China (Kashgar) through Kyrgyzstan...
The Paradox of Central Asian Integration: From Hegemonic Dependency to a Trans-Regional “Chain Coalition”
Central Asia is a complex and geopolitically significant area, comprising five ethnic-based republics: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The region’s current security system...