U.S. Interests in Central Asia and the Challenges to Them
Abstract
Central Asia is an area whose importance to the United States is growing. Yet it also is an imperiled region because it faces numerous constant challenges stemming from pervasive internal misrule and the continuing interest of terrorist organizations in overthrowing local regimes. Its significance is strategic due to its proximity to the war on terrorism and major actors like Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, and India. Only secondarily is it important by virtue of its energy. Another key interest of U.S. policy is the promotion of democratic reforms and of open societies throughout the region. Today, American interests in Central Asia are under challenge in three definable areas: (1) Russia and China have launched a coordinated campaign to oust the U.S. strategic presence from Central Asia; (2) they and local governments, who have good reason to fear democratic reforms, have waged an ideological campaign, accusing the United States of organizing "color revolutions" to oust those regimes from power; and (3) the Taliban has revived its offensive in Afghanistan. The purpose behind Moscow and Beijing's efforts is to preserve the status quo and to further erode America's capability for action in the area. Thus, America faces simultaneous and overlapping military, political, economic, and ideological challenges to its interests there. These challenges succeeded to a point in 2005 because of a lack of policy coordination at home and diminishing policy interest in the region. Consequently, any successful U.S. strategy must be holistic -- it must embrace and utilize all the instruments of power. The recommendations for policy makers that are contained in this monograph emphasize the need to work with allies both within the area and outside it, such as India, the European Union, and NATO. This also means working with all the Central Asian regional governments, no matter how unsavory their conduct is or has been.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA464818
Entities
People
- Stephen J. Blank
Organizations
- United States Army War College