The United States in Central Asia: A Fleeting Return?
The chaotic retreat of the United States from Afghanistan in August 2021 might lead to an expectation of a lasting loss of influence in central Asia.
The war in Ukraine has shuffled the deck: central Asian states have put distance between themselves and Moscow and are looking to diversify their international partnerships. Washington sees this as an opportunity for a resurgence in the region, which in particular is taking the form of renewed trade relationships in the security and energy sectors.
Michaël Levystone is Research Fellow Associate at Ifri's Russia/NIS Center.
Article published in Politique étrangère, Vol. 88, No. 1, spring 2023.