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The Central Asian region, with a population of 72 million, consists of five Republics namely Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.
The Region is rich in natural and human resources. The GDP (PPP) of the region was $300 billion according to 2019 estimates. The GDP per capita was $4000.
The Central Asian Republics have a boundary with Iran, Afghanistan, Russia, and China. The geographical location of the region gives it great importance as it is surrounded by Europe, East Asia, South Asia, Russia, and China. Central Asia, historically, was a valuable path of the Silk Route as all the trade between East Asia, South Asia, China, Russia, and Europe passed through it.
The Central Asian region was predominantly Iranian in the pre-Islamic period. By the mid of 19th century, the region was part of the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union. The region was divided into different Republics with the fall of the Soviet Empire.
The Central Asian Republics’ relations with Russia and China
The Central Asian Republics hold great importance for both Russia and China. Since the break-up of the Soviet Union and the independence of all the Central Asian states, their relationship with Russia and China has ameliorated and the last three decades has been promising, as far as the inter-relationship between Central Asia, Russia, and China is concerned.
Russia signed a Collective Security Treaty with the Central Asian Republics in 2002 and also made the Republic states the member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in 2014. The CSTO was structured to form a collective security partnership for the region and fight the common enemies together. The EAEU was signed to form an economic partnership between the Central Asian states and Russia for economic co-operation and development of the region.
Terrorism is a big threat for not only Russia but also for the Republic states because Central Asia is neighbored by the terrorism infiltrated Afghanistan. Therefore security co-operation was ensured between Russia and the Republic states to curb the excesses of the scourge of terrorism. With NATO’s exit from Afghanistan and the receding of the focus of the USA from the region, it was the need of the hour that an established power like Russia rejuvenates its interest in the Central Asian region and work to fight terrorism.
The Central Asian Republics are rich in Natural resources and are a matter of great interest for energy scarce Europe. Russia structured EAEU and made them part of it to help them sign a better deal and recalibrate their economy.
China, on the other hand, values the Central Asian region a lot because of its importance in the ancient Silk Route. China, recently, announced the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) that connects China with Europe, East Asia, and South Asia through Central Asia.
The region holds great importance for China; China is an energy scarce region, it is hard to sustain its more than 1.3 billion population. Keeping that in view, the Central Asia nations could fill that energy-stricken gap as the region is rich in natural resources like coal, gas, and oil. Therefore the relationship between China and Central Asia is improving day by day.
What future challenges lie ahead?
There are many challenges in the future for the Central Asian nations. The first and the foremost challenge for the CARs is that it is part of the New Great Game and the Great Power Politics between the powers of the world like Russia, China, and the USA.
The next challenge for them is that the multi-power hegemonic have a great quest for energy resources and want to overtake regions that are rich in natural resources. Another challenge for them would be that the world is moving towards renewable clean energy and the demand for coal, gas, and oil will recede with time because of carbon footprints associated with them.
We can conclude from the above discussion that the CARs, both historically and in the present world, hold a great value for the region. The region is now part of the New Great Game and the Great Power Politics. The natural resources of the region have made them a centre of attention for the world. Nonetheless, terrorism is a big threat for the CARs hence they must take solid steps to overcome this menace.
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