Central Asia in the Wider World
Central Asia in the Wider World
This chapter examines bilateral relations with external economic powers and private foreign investors. External interest in Central Asia during the 1990s centered on pipeline politics. Russia continued to be the dominant economic and political partner, but the government was focused on domestic issues. The USA opened embassies in all the new independent states, but Central Asia was a low foreign policy priority. Meanwhile, the EU became a major trading partner, but relations were characterized by lack of clear strategic goals, and EU technical assistance had limited impact. China and Central Asia, amidst mutual suspicion, focused on border demarcation and demilitarization. The twenty-first century saw dramatic changes in external relations. Indeed, in the first decade of the twenty-first century, the EU was Central Asia's largest trade partner and China was the fastest growing.
Keywords: bilateral relations, external economic powers, private foreign investors, Central Asia, pipeline politics, Russia, USA, EU, China, foreign policy
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