Author: Zeynep Gizem Ozpinar

The 6th Central Asia-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Almaty, Kazakhstan on April 26, 2025, was an important step in Beijing’s strategy to extend its influence in the region beyond bilateral relations and consolidate it at the institutional level. The meeting, attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as well as the foreign ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and the ambassador of Turkmenistan to China, underlined the importance China attaches to multilateral diplomacy. While cooperation in areas such as transport, energy, digitalization, environment and security were on the agenda, it was noteworthy that common interests were discussed in a structured…

The trilateral summit of the leaders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan held on March 31, 2025, in the city of Khujand in Tajikistan, following the end of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border dispute, is remarkable in terms of sending a message of reconciliation and peace at a time when instabilities in regional politics have become chronic. The signed “agreement on the junction of state borders” and the “declaration of eternal friendship” were not limited to technical border demarcations but laid the foundation for a deeper regional cooperation between the parties on political, economic and energy grounds. However, the question of whether this…

Central Asia is becoming increasingly critical on the world stage in terms of rare earth elements and strategic minerals. These resources have become indispensable in many sectors, from modern technology to the defence industry, from renewable energy to advanced manufacturing processes. Since rare earth elements have a wide range of uses, from semiconductors to batteries, from military equipment to wind turbines, countries with these minerals are strategically important. While the competition of global powers in this field is increasing, the riches of Central Asia turn the region into not only an economic centre of attraction but also a geopolitical battleground.…