A Study of Central Asia to Identify Future Threats to Regional Stability
Abstract
The breakup of the former Soviet Union led to the independence of 11 states called the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). With all the positive attributes associated with this monumental event there are several challenges that threaten the security of the region. This paper will attempt to answer the question: what are the salient challenges to USCENTCOM inherent within the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Open source material provided the background information necessary to write this paper. Due to the fairly recent formation of the CIS there is not a large volume of information available on the subject matter. The Central Asian nations have much in common. They were occupied by former Tsarist Russia, then Communist Russia, the majority of their populations are Muslim, four of the five states speak a Turkic dialect and, of course they share common borders. Blended in with these and other similarities are several differences. The natural resource within the states varies widely depending on the state. The philosophies of the leadership and the needs of various ethnic and religious groups also deserve consideration. The United States National Military Strategy is used as a framework to view and analyze challenges in the region. Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have the greatest potential to challenge U.S. interests. The causes of the challenges are discussed as well as what can be done to decrease the chance of conflict occurring.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA394054
Entities
People
- Mark Bednar
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College