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Source: Getty

In The Media

What Should Be the U.S. Priority in Central Asia?

Twenty five years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States must reevaluate its policy toward Central Asia and bring it in line with the new reality of the region.

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By Paul Stronski
Published on Feb 3, 2016
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Russia and Eurasia

The Russia and Eurasia Program continues Carnegie’s long tradition of independent research on major political, societal, and security trends in and U.S. policy toward a region that has been upended by Russia’s war against Ukraine.  Leaders regularly turn to our work for clear-eyed, relevant analyses on the region to inform their policy decisions.

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Source: Voice of America

Twenty five years since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Central Asia is on a trajectory away from the West. Speaking with Voice of America's Navbahor Imamova, Carnegie's Paul Stronski explained that the region is in the midst of a major geopolitical shift that portends declining American presence in and influence over the region—and greater difficulty in transforming Central Asian states into democratic, free-market economies knitted together by regional economic integration. Advancing Washington's priorities in this new environment will require signficant changes in U.S. policy, he argued.

This interview was originally aired by Voice of America.

About the Author

Paul Stronski

Former Senior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program

Paul Stronski was a senior fellow in Carnegie’s Russia and Eurasia Program, where his research focuses on the relationship between Russia and neighboring countries in Central Asia and the South Caucasus.

    Recent Work

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Paul Stronski
Former Senior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program
Paul Stronski
Political ReformDemocracyForeign PolicyNorth AmericaUnited StatesCentral Asia

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.

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