A Military Strategy for Central Asia
Abstract
After 11 September 2001 Central Asia rose from relative strategic obscurity to major importance as the United States began to prosecute the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). Central Asia is geographically critical to the GWOT with basing and over-flight access for U.S. and coalition forces conducting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan as well as for NATO forces participating in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul. The region's weak and poorly developed state institutions make some of the Central Asian states - if not all of them - potentially ripe for domestic instability and external antagonisms. Since gaining their independence in 1991 Central Asian nations have witnessed a bloody civil war in Tajikistan insurgent activity in the Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan and assassination attempts on the Turkmen and Uzbek presidents. The region has become a nexus of increased political military economic and religious interest and activities of regional and external powers. Given renewed U.S. interest in Central Asia the nation requires a military strategy for the region. This paper will propose such a strategy after examining several issues relating to the development of such a strategy. What U.S. interests are at stake in Central Asia? What objectives(s) (ends) should the United States pursue given the complex strategic environment in and around Central Asia? What methodologies or concepts (ways) should the nation employ in using the military instrument of power to achieve these ends and with what resources (means)? Finally what are the risks facing the U.S. in implementing this strategy?
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 03, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA423326
Entities
People
- Jon E. Chicky
Organizations
- United States Army War College