The United States in Central Asia: Reassessing a Challenging Partnership

Marlene Laruelle

Marlène Laruelle are Senior Research Fellows with the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Programme, at the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC. read more

Sebastien Peyrouse

Sébastien Peyrouse are Senior Research Fellow with the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Programme, at the School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC. read more

This article focuses on the evolving place of the US in the Central Asian arena, analysing how US interests have changed in this region since the 1990s. It studies how strategic relations were transformed around the NATO Partnership for Peace, the growing cooperation in the Caspian Sea, and the building of a regional security architecture surrounding Afghanistan. It also analyses Washington’s difficulties in promoting ‘civil society’ and the limits of the US economic engagement in the region. It concludes that the United States must show more interest in societal development, and demonstrate its willingness to respond to Central Asian needs and perspectives.