The strategic importance of the Central Asian republics in American perception

Abstract

The Central Asian republics (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan) are considered vital regions, particularly in the strategic perception of the United States. After gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the region is no longer merely Moscow's, Rather, it has turned into an area of ​​international power struggle, and the American decision-maker sees it as an essential part of the "Heart of the World" theory, in which whoever controls it controls Eurasia and therefore the world. Therefore, the American strategy aims to prevent the emergence of any dominant regional power in this region. The US strategy also aims to support the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which transports energy to Europe outside of Russian control, thereby enhancing energy security for Western allies. The research problem lies in understanding the strategy the United States employs to achieve its interests and contain Russian and Chinese influence, preventing their dominance in the region. The hypothesis proved that the United States is working to keep these republics politically independent from Russian and Chinese influence, especially in the energy and economic spheres, given their importance in American strategic thinking. The study concluded that Central Asia is not merely a marginal region in American foreign policy. Rather, it is a major "chessboard."