Russia and China will struggle for common policy on possible Russian soft underbelly Central Asia, Afghanistan, Mongolia, the vital Europe/Asia Caucasus crossroads, the Baltics, CEE and SEE.
Kosh Tepa canal irrigation project could deplete Amu Darya border river flows.
Kremlin nevertheless bristled at top diplomat’s arrival, saying “there is no place for the democratisation experiments of Washington”.
Farmland and pastures across the region are far less productive after decades of monocropping.
Looking forward to the end of the war, whenever it happens, policymakers are already speculating on how many of the refugees and migrants are likely to stay and how many will return.
No-one can say for sure where the next Big One will hit.
As death toll from the major Turkey-Syria quakes passes 50,000, Tajiks relieved that 6.8-magnitude tremor has hit remote area.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has weakened its influence in Central Asia, especially in Kazakhstan. Russia is no longer a regional hegemon, which may increase regional instability. Tensions between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are especially dangerous.
Faced with governments struggling with high debt burdens in South Asia and Africa, and growing regulatory caution in Europe, China is increasing its focus on Central Asia, Fitch analysts said.
The EBRD lowered its forecasts for more than half its 36 countries of operation, anticipating average growth of just 2.1% this year.
Warning picks up on growing worries of Islamic militant infiltration into Russia’s Central Asian backyard.
Each time he appears to near the prize, difficulties caused by external events seem to snatch it away.
174,000 Tajiks became citizens of Russia in 2022, up from 104,000 the year before.
The free flow of ideas, people, goods, services, and capital across national borders leads to greater economic integration. But globalization, the trend toward these things moving ever more freely between nations, has slowed in recent years.
Newspaper report says Iranian delegation travelled to Russia to look at potential for production plant in Tatarstan.
Mercantilism is also replacing globalisation, and the US has a declining interest in European affairs.
Partly thanks to infrastructure projects blown up by the militants while they were trying to turf out the US, Afghanistan is dependent on neighbours for 73% of its electricity.
Beg Sabur has been dispatched to the Pamirs to start work on overhauling the nation's internet.
Moscow curries favour, neighbours seek more gas, and Turkmenistan’s colossal methane pollution could power Afghanistan at little cost many times over. Eurasianet’s weekly Turkmenistan briefing.
Tales of families sleeping in cars that are warmer than homes as cold front brings sub-zero temperatures not experienced in half a century.