The Great Powers in Central Asia

{
  "authors": [
    "Martha Brill Olcott"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "russia",
  "programs": [
    "Russia and Eurasia"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "China",
    "Central Asia",
    "Kazakhstan",
    "Kyrgyz Republic",
    "Caucasus",
    "Russia",
    "Azerbaijan"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Military",
    "Foreign Policy"
  ]
}

In The Media

The Great Powers in Central Asia

For the past decade Central Asia has been cast as the site of a new "great game," with the United States vying for influence with Russia and China.

By Martha Brill Olcott

Published on Oct 1, 2005

Source: Current History

For the past decade Central Asia has been cast as the site of a new "great game," with the United States vying for influence with Russia and China. The label first reemerged when the United States began pushing hard for the creation of an oil pipeline route through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey (the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline) as an alternative to shipping Caspian oil and gas through Russia or Iran. Many thought that the opening of US bases in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and increased military cooperation with the region's three other states--all part of the strategic deployment designed to oust the Taliban and then rebuild civil order in Afghanistan after September 11--ensured US "victory" in the game.

Reprinted with permission from Current History (October 2005) c 2005, Current History, Inc.

Click on the link above for the full text.

Military Foreign Policy China Central Asia Kazakhstan Kyrgyz Republic Caucasus Russia Azerbaijan

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary
Strategic Europe
Can Europe Still Matter in Syria?
Europe’s interests in Syria extend beyond migration management, yet the EU trails behind other players in the country’s post-Assad reconstruction. To boost its influence in Damascus, the union must upgrade its commitment to ensuring regional stability.
Bianka Speidl, Hanga Horváth-Sántha
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Where Does the Split in the Ruling Tandem Leave Kyrgyzstan?
Despite its reputation as an island of democracy in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan appears to be on the brink of becoming a personalist autocracy.
Temur Umarov
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Does Russia Have Enough Soldiers to Keep Waging War Against Ukraine?
The Russian army is not currently struggling to recruit new contract soldiers, though the number of people willing to go to war for money is dwindling.
Dmitry Kuznets
Commentary
Emissary
What If Trump Gets His Russia-Ukraine Deal?
It’s dangerous to dismiss Washington’s shambolic diplomacy out of hand.
Eric Ciaramella
Commentary
Strategic Europe
Taking the Pulse: Can the EU Attract Foreign Investment and Reduce Dependencies?
EU member states clash over how to boost the union’s competitiveness: Some want to favor European industries in public procurement, while others worry this could deter foreign investment. So, can the EU simultaneously attract global capital and reduce dependencies?
Rym Momtaz, ed.

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary

Strategic Europe

Can Europe Still Matter in Syria?

Europe’s interests in Syria extend beyond migration management, yet the EU trails behind other players in the country’s post-Assad reconstruction. To boost its influence in Damascus, the union must upgrade its commitment to ensuring regional stability.

Bianka Speidl, Hanga Horváth-Sántha

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Where Does the Split in the Ruling Tandem Leave Kyrgyzstan?

Despite its reputation as an island of democracy in Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan appears to be on the brink of becoming a personalist autocracy.

Temur Umarov

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Does Russia Have Enough Soldiers to Keep Waging War Against Ukraine?

The Russian army is not currently struggling to recruit new contract soldiers, though the number of people willing to go to war for money is dwindling.

Dmitry Kuznets

Kushner and Putin shaking hands, with Witkoff standing next to them

Commentary

Emissary

What If Trump Gets His Russia-Ukraine Deal?

It’s dangerous to dismiss Washington’s shambolic diplomacy out of hand.

Eric Ciaramella

Commentary

Strategic Europe

Taking the Pulse: Can the EU Attract Foreign Investment and Reduce Dependencies?

EU member states clash over how to boost the union’s competitiveness: Some want to favor European industries in public procurement, while others worry this could deter foreign investment. So, can the EU simultaneously attract global capital and reduce dependencies?

Rym Momtaz, ed.