IRAN’S SELF-DEFEATING REGIONAL STRATEGY
By Richard Weitz (3/21/2012 issue of the CACI Analyst)
One of the banes of the Central Asia & Caucasus region is that they have Iran’s hard-line regime as their neighbor. The clerical regime often fights with them over resources, uses their territories to wage spy wars, and exacerbates regional tensions through its generally aggressive policies.
US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SEEKS TO SHORE UP MANAS AIR BASE
By Myles G. Smith (3/21/2012 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Secretary Panetta visited Kyrgyzstan on March 13 to solidify that Bishkek honors its commitment to the agreement to host the U.S. military’s Transit Center at Manas International Airport outside Bishkek.
TURKEY AND KYRGYZSTAN DEEPEN TIES
By Dmitry Shlapentokh (3/21/2012 issue of the CACI Analyst)
While Kyrgyzstan has expressed a desire to join Russia’s Eurasian Union in the future, a close analysis of Kyrgyz foreign policy indicates that it, similar to other Central Asian states who have expressed an interest in the project, regards increased integration with Russia as just one among many possibilities. They could easily change the direction of their geopolitical orientations if they do not receive the benefits expected from Moscow.
CHINA-KYRGYZSTAN-UZBEKISTAN RAILWAY PROJECT BRINGS POLITICAL RISKS
By Myles G. Smith (3/7/2012 issue of the CACI Analyst)
The signature infrastructure project of Kyrgyzstan’s new leadership is a 268 kilometer railroad line that would link China with Kyrgyzstan’s southern provinces and Uzbekistan. President Atambayev insists that Kyrgyzstan would profit greatly from inter-regional transit trade if the US$ 2 billion-plus line were built. Restrictions on Kyrgyzstan’s once lucrative practice of re-exporting Chinese goods to Russia and Kazakhstan have been increasingly curtailed by new Customs Union rules, leaving Bishkek searching for new sources of national income and employment.
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