A few days ago we discussed newly minted Russian President, Dmitri Medvedev's first foreign visit to Kazakhstan, but equally if not more important to the CA region and the world at large is where he went next, China. He met with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao in a visit that was both […]
Here in the United States, the world's largest and in many ways most dynamic economy, everyday we open the morning papers lately just to see one more sign that our economy is in trouble; credit crisis, stimulus packages, unemployment, gas/oil prices, food prices, a movie in New York City costs $12.00! America is not alone […]
On May 22, new Russian President Dmitri Medvedev made his first foreign diplomatic visit of his term to Astana, Kazakhstan. This gesture shows to the Astana's government, China, US, and the world that Russia sees great importance in its relations with this CA/CIS power, but also the region as a whole. Medvedev stated; “Astana did […]
With an International Donor's Conference being held in Paris next week on Afghanistan's behalf, increasing pressure is being put on President Karzai's ability to run the still unstable nation's government. The donor's aid is expected to target the sector's of agriculture, energy, security and education, but a number of them are demanding that the conference […]
Here is a Friday Link Laydown of hopefully some informative and interesting items: A. Iranian President Ahmadinejad recent visit to India is analyzed with a geopolitical mindset by MK Bhadrakumar, a former Indian diplomat. India and Iran's postures and interests in Central Asia are discussed, as is the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Bhadrakumar gives a fresh […]
Good morning friends, today I would just like to give an update on upcoming or recently passed regional conferences and cooperation in the CA. 1. The 6th Annual Almaty Conference “Central Asia: State and Prospects of Regional Cooperation” will be hosted in surprise, Almaty, Kazakhstan on June 11. The conference is organized by the Ebert […]
Here's a story, in fact really a series of events, in which I have not heard much about. The governments of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and even resource-poor Tajikistan have led many ‘urban renewal’ projects in their respective capitals and major cities. This makes sense in many ways as most of these states are receiving large […]
As can be easily found in my article discussing India's growing influence and interest in Central Asia, they are not alone. Those of you who check this blog often, know that it features many pieces analyzing great power relations involving Central Asia. Although the ‘Great Game’ designation has been way overplayed, it is true that […]
On this blog, we have discussed India's increasing economic and strategic presence in Central Asia. The reasons for this are many, as are the implications for the region. I have written a short piece describing and analyzing this geopolitical occurrence for the Foreign Policy Association that you can find on its homepage. Here is the […]
“To be honest, they abandoned us.” Unnamed Uzbek who fled the country in April, voicing his displeasure with the West's rapprochement with the Karimov regime. The three year anniversary of the Andijon incident in Uzbekistan is upon us and I have found two interesting articles discussing its significance in the here and now, mainly regarding […]
We’ve had a ‘Good News’ blog and another lighthearted one of various links, but the good times are over! Thanks to Freedom House's newly released Freedom of the Press 2007 Survey, we can put the good feelings behind us as our Central Asian states received bleak, down-trending outlooks. The Survey concluded that Press Freedom was […]
Happy Memorial Day to all those who have put their lives on the line for their respective nation and people. I was going to discuss the latest Freedom House Media Report, but was having problems accessing their website. Maybe Kazakhstan's government has gotten to them too! Expect this tomorrow or soon after. Kyrg seismic activity […]
Let's join the club! Unfortunately, a definitive majority of news I report on and discuss on this blog is of the negative kind. It does them a true adage that good news is not really news people tend to be drawn to. I looked at many of the reports, articles, and other blog topic ideas […]
About a month ago we discussed the implications for new Russian presidency of Dmitry Medvedev for Central Asia, Russian domestic politics, and the world in general. Would Medvedev be Putin's puppet? Would he be a liberalizer? What could we expect from him regarding relations between Russia and the Central Asian states? We are about to […]
Afghan's culture and societal battles are of utmost important in the overall fight for the country's future, but the Afghan and NATO armies are still the key-holders to success on all fronts. Their ability to stand up or stand down against the Taliban and other insurgent forces will be a crucial determining factor as the […]