The historical Heartland – or Central Eurasia – already is, and will continue to be, the prime battlefield in the New Great Game, fought between the United States and the China-Russia strategic partnership. The original Great Game pitted the British and Russian empires in the late 19th century, and in fact, never got away: it…
Even though this corridor is less efficient than transiting through Kazakhstan, it more than makes up for that by mitigating the strategic consequences of Astana’s potential “defection” to the West, which can’t be ruled out after recent events. Governor of Russia’s Astrakhan Region Igor Babushkin announced the creation in early July of a “Southern Transport…
In November President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan won re-election with over 80% of the vote. As he was the official candidate of every party represented in parliament, this was not surprising. It is this sort of thing which has given Central Asian states in general a bad name. Even though they may be democracies in…
The western assault on Russia and other rivals is economic. The military conflicts in Ukraine and elsewhere are only symptoms of the competition for the remaining resources that power world economies. This, as well all know, is abundantly clear. A perfect example of how the world is reeling energy-wise can be seen in Kazakhstan’s natural…
Amidst serious tremors in the world of geopolitics, it is so fitting that this year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) heads of state summit should have taken place in Samarkand – the ultimate Silk Road crossroads for 2,500 years. When in 329 BC Alexander the Great reached the then Sogdian city of Marakanda, part of the…
One year after the astounding US humiliation in Kabul – and on the verge of another serious comeuppance in Donbass – there is reason to believe Moscow is wary of Washington seeking vengeance: in the form of the ‘Afghanization’ of Ukraine. With no end in sight to western weapons and finance flowing into Kiev, it…
