The United States must act more flexibly to increase its influence in Central Asia and find allies in the region. About how the country is preparing to "knock out" Russia from the region, according to the material of the publication The National Interest.
The United States of America is losing support in Central Asia and cannot maintain a presence in this region without establishing ties with friendly States. So says Professor of the University of Louisville Charles Ziegler (Charles Ziegler). According to the author, Washington should support the sovereignty of the Central Asian states, reduce the terrorist threat, promote human rights ideas and increase investment in the local economy. In addition, it is necessary to contain the influence of Russia and China.
Naming possible US plans, Charles Ziegler believes that the Biden administration as a whole retains the main features of the Trump administration's foreign policy course. However, the new president's willingness to confront Moscow and Beijing may increase tensions in the region. In this regard, the United States faces a difficult choice — either to compete with other powers, or to cede influence in the region.
The expert believes that the United States should reduce its military presence and refuse to restore bases outside of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. It is necessary to negotiate with allies who could represent Washington's interests. Among them, Ziegler lists Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and India. Of all the states, India's policy is as close as possible to the foreign policy of the United States. New Delhi is very interested in stabilizing Afghanistan, countering the influence of Pakistan and the Chinese initiative "One Belt and One Road".
India has authority in Central Asia, although it does not have a serious military presence, apart from the Farkhor air base in southern Tajikistan. However, over the past few years, the local army has conducted exercises with Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, as well as supplied equipment to the armed forces of Afghanistan. Professor Ziegler is inclined to believe that the Indian-backed troops in Afghanistan are unable to replace the US or NATO forces, but they can contain the Taliban and the Islamic State (terrorist organizations banned in Russia).
To win the favor of India, the expert advises to forget about the differences and first of all help the country with countering the coronavirus infection. Also, Washington should not threaten sanctions for the acquisition of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems and lift restrictions on New Delhi due to the fact that India buys oil from Iran.
Earlier, Timofey Bordachev, research director of the Center for Integrated European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics , said that the withdrawal of the United States and its allies from Afghanistan could become a serious threat to the security of Russia and Central Asia. However, this may push the growing countries of the region to even closer cooperation with Russia and its partners in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
Andrey Stavitsky
