Central Asia’s Security:Issues and Implications for U.S. Interests
Summary
The Central Asian states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,and Uzbekistan) face common security challenges from crime, corruption, terrorism,and faltering commitments to economic and democratic reforms. However,cooperation among them remains halting, so security in the region is likely in thenear term to vary by country. Kyrgyzstan’s and Tajikistan’s futures are most cloudedby ethnic and territorial tensions, and corruption in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistancould spoil benefits from the development of their ample energy resources.Authoritarianism and poverty in Uzbekistan could contribute to a succession crisis.On the other hand, Kyrgyzstan’s growing but still fragile civil society might help therelatively small nation safeguard its independence. Uzbekistan might become aregional power able to take the lead on policy issues common to Central Asia and toresist undue influence from more powerful outside powers, because of its largeterritory and population (55 million) and energy and other resources.Internal political developments in several bordering or close-by states may havea large impact on Central Asian security. These developments include a moreauthoritarian and globalist Russia, ethnic and political instability in China and Iran,and re-surging drug production and Islamic extremism in Afghanistan.Since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, theAdministration has established bases and other military access in the region for U.S.-led coalition actions in Afghanistan, and it has stressed that the United States willremain interested in the long-term security and stability of the region. U.S. interestsin Central Asia include fostering democratization, human rights, free markets, andtrade; assisting the development of oil and other resources; and combating terrorism,the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and drug production and trafficking.The United States seeks to thwart dangers posed to its security by the illicit transferof strategic missile, nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons technologies,materials, and expertise to terrorist states or groups, and to address threats posed toregional independence by Iran. Some critics counter that the United States hashistorically had few interests in this region, and advocate only limited U.S. contactsundertaken with Turkey and other friends and allies to ensure U.S. goals. They alsoargue that the region’s energy resources may not measurably enhance U.S. energysecurity.Most in Congress have supported U.S. assistance to bolster independence andreforms in Central Asia. The 106
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Congress authorized a “Silk Road” initiative forgreater policy attention and aid for democratization, market reforms, humanitarianneeds, conflict resolution, transport infrastructure (including energy pipelines), andborder controls. The 108
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and 109
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Congresses imposed conditions on foreignassistance to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, based on their human rights records. The110
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Congress is likely to continue to raise questions about what should be theappropriate level and scope of U.S. interest and involvement in the region.
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