U.S. Middle East Policies Isolate Central Asia, Experts Warn
U.S. actions in the Middle East are inadvertently isolating Central Asia, according to experts. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held hearings to discuss the future of U.S. strategy in the Black Sea region. The hearings highlighted the region's potential and challenges.
Frederick Starr, founder of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, expressed concern at the hearings about the U.S.'s influence in Central Asia. He noted that U.S. actions, such as tightening sanctions on Iran, are hindering Central Asian countries' relations with the south and isolating the region.
The U.S. faces a dilemma in Central Asia. It aims to remove the region from Chinese and Russian influence but its own policies are hindering integration. Central Asia is rich in rare elements, yet the U.S. sees it as less of a priority compared to other regions like the Middle East.
Senator Steve Daines highlighted the significant undeveloped or underutilized natural resources in the South Caucasus and Central Asia. However, Turkmenistan's gas supplies are monopolized by China, making diversification a strategic necessity for Ashgabat. Germany, on the other hand, supports experts from Central Asia and the Caucasus in developing transport and logistics connections with South Asia.
The U.S. must balance its Middle East policies with its strategic interests in Central Asia. The region's potential resources and strategic location necessitate a more proactive approach. Experts like Starr advocate for the Greater Central Asia concept to reduce Russian and Chinese influence, but the U.S. must first address the isolation caused by its own actions.
