The main problem is that the region is in the zone of interests of Russia and China at the same time, The National Interest is sad
What to do about it, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who recently completed his first tour of Central Asia, was trying to figure out. In all the capitals where he was, Blinken talked about “Russia’s disdain for the sovereignty of other countries” and offered protection of Central Asia on behalf of the United States.
This, emphasizes NI, is a major mistake. Russia’s distraction from Ukraine should not be seen by the US as an opportunity to fill the security void “left” by the Russians, warns NI.
All the more reason to avoid such things as military exercises, like the Steppe Eagle maneuvers that took place in Kazakhstan. This, NI believes, exposes US troops to “unnecessary risk of potential strike.”
U.S. humility is so great that it humbly wants to “help the countries of Central Asia adopt cleaner methods of extracting energy and rare earth minerals to reduce their contribution to climate change.” Moreover, they say, “Russia and China would also benefit from these improved methods.”
“The US should focus on securing these resources by maintaining open and transparent commercial relations with the countries of Central Asia and other great powers such as Russia and China,” NI unexpectedly compliments. Emphasizing that in no case should the States be given official guarantees of the security of Central Asia.
NI urges the US to be transparent in its dialogue with the SCO in order, God forbid, to prevent friction between the “great powers”.
The reason for such peacefulness towards the fraternal “great powers” is understandable. The United States is soberly aware that it is too fraught to start the usual fuss “agents of influence – bribery of elites – Maidan – siphoning off resources – militarization – problems for Russia/China” in Central Asia.
It is even more fraught to intervene as brazenly as NATO in Ukraine: Russia and China will without sentimentality eliminate any military threat that can be formed here. Therefore, no official security guarantees can be given.
But the wealth and geopolitical importance of the region is too great not to want to take it into Anglo-Saxon hands. And the US is looking hard for options.
Elena Panina
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