The United States is seeking to diversify its supply chain for critical minerals and reduce its dependence on China by establishing partnerships with Central Asian republics, though it anticipates various challenges. In particular, China’s restrictions on gallium and germanium exports
Introduction: From Contractor to Architect Central Asia’s contemporary geopolitical architecture is evolving beyond its historical characterization as merely an arena for great-power rivalry. While the systemic influences of China’s infrastructure-heavy Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Russia’s traditional security presence
The Azerbaijan State News Agency (AZERTAC) made an interview with Dr. Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu, Deputy Director of the Seoul Institute of Global Affairs (SIGA). – The 2025 became a turning point in the normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan,
Few would have imagined a decade ago that India and Armenia would one day stand as visible strategic partners. For years, their ties were cordial but peripheral, overshadowed by larger powers and deeper alliances. Armenia, scarred by its vulnerability in
In 2025, the first EU–Central Asia Summit took place amid intensifying global competition, emphasizing the EU’s efforts to strengthen ties through connectivity, economic diversification and access to critical raw materials. Key regional concerns—including migration, sanctions circumvention, and infrastructure gaps—were also
As Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan advance ambitious modernization strategies, their evolving relationship is becoming central to the future of Central Asia. Beyond reform indicators, the key issue is how the two states navigate complementarity and competition within an emerging regional architecture.
The U.S.-brokered peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, culminating in the creation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), have triggered a sharp strategic reaction from Iran. The 20-mile corridor through Zangezur grants Azerbaijan direct access to
Turkey has decided to replace the term “Central Asia” with “Turkestan” in its national history curriculum. By using the term “Turkestan,” Turkey aims to realign itself with Central Asia while also evaluating the region from its own distinct geopolitical perspective. The new