Blog
Crossroads Asia
With Prime Minister’s Visit, Mongolia Boosts Third Neighbor Ties With the Middle East
By Bolor Lkhaajav
Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai paid a working visit to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates.
The Legitimization of Land Grabbing in Uzbekistan’s Cotton Sector
By Lynn Schweisfurth
Farmers pay a heavy price in the name of privatization.
No Rallies in 3 Years? Kyrgyz President Claims ‘Stability,’ Forgets Reality
By Catherine Putz
Despite a ban on rallies in much of Bishkek since March 2022, there have actually been rallies, protests, and even riots in the country in recent years.
Mongolia Eyes India as Third Destination for Coal Exports
By Bolor Lkhaajav
Mongolian coal exports to India have the potential to reduce Ulaanbaatar’s landlocked conundrum.
Sanctions on Gazprombank Imperil Uzbek Copper Mine Expansion
By Daniel Beizsley
The $4.8 billion Yoshlik expansion project aims to vastly expand Uzbekistan’s copper output, but the Western sanctioning of Russian banks financing the project put the enterprise at risk.
After 33 Years, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Announce Border Agreement
By Catherine Putz
The two sides say they’ve reached an agreement and fully completed the description of their mutual border. The next steps will be even more difficult.
Door-to-Door: Tajikistan’s Fight Against Radicalization
By Abaigeal Lorge
Dushanbe’s door-to-door policy is part of an almost decade-long campaign to counter radicalization and religious extremism in the country. Is it effective?
Critical Metals Key to Deepening South Korea-Kyrgyzstan Relations
By Catherine Putz
The two countries elevated ties to a comprehensive partnership.
France and Italy’s Central Asia Strategy: Securing Energy and Shaping Security
By Douwe van der Meer and Alexander Royall
Central Asia’s evolving geopolitical role is not just about balancing external actors; it is about leveraging these partnerships to pursue their own national and elite interests.
An Alleged Coup Plot and a Secretive Trial in Tajikistan
By Catherine Putz
The alleged coup plot features every one of President Emomali Rahmon’s personal bêtes noires.
Kazakhstan’s Kuryk Pipeline Plan
By Paolo Sorbello
A planned oil pipeline could gain momentum given the uncertainty around routes through Russia.
Can the US Be a Weapons Supplier to Central Asia?
By Wilder Alejandro Sánchez
The United States' footprint in the Central Asian arms market is minimal, but the State Department believes this situation could change in the future.