Major Powers Woo Central Asia
Summary
Major powers are intensifying their engagement with Central Asia as they compete for access to mineral resources and new trade routes. Gwadar Port and alternative connectivity through Pakistan are gaining fresh importance amid disruptions on routes via Afghanistan and the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
Key Points
- China, Russia, India, the United States and the European Union are deepening ties with Central Asia as they compete for vital minerals and strategic influence.
- Gwadar Port and Pakistan’s Sost Dry Port are being promoted as alternative trade routes as instability and closures disrupt Afghan transit corridors.
- Recent summit diplomacy has included Xi Jinping in Kazakhstan, Narendra Modi in a virtual summit, Joe Biden at the UN General Assembly and Ursula von der Leyen at an EU-Central Asia summit.
- The article says regional realignments could revive projects such as the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline.
