While Mr Trump’s victory has drawn attention in many parts of the world, Central Asian countries have remained indifferent and cautious. With a history of failed cooperation with the US, countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have learned to maintain a pragmatic foreign policy and not to be tied to any one power.
According to the Sabah Daily (Türkiye) on November 9, while the US and many countries are "excited" about the return of Donald Trump, the Central Asian region has shown a rather dull attitude. For leaders from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan, they see little reason to expect that Mr. Trump's "America First" policy will bring significant benefits to the region.
Bruce Pannier, a veteran journalist on the region, bluntly stated: “Central Asia may well disappear from the US foreign policy radar. Mr Trump paid little attention to Central Asia during his first term as US president, even when US troops were still present in Afghanistan.”
This indifference is deeply rooted in past broken promises. Washington’s goals of “promoting democracy, containing Russian influence, and protecting energy resources” have all failed to deliver the desired results.
History shows that the US-Central Asia relationship has gone through many ups and downs. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the US had a “golden opportunity” to exert influence in this region. Central Asian countries, especially Kazakhstan with large oil and uranium reserves, were once expected by Washington.
However, the United States has underestimated the complexity of Central Asian societies. Historical ties to Russia, complex family structures, and the challenges of nation-building have created many barriers. Efforts to push through rapid economic reform have often backfired, leading to increased inequality and corruption.
After 11/9, Central Asia is back in the spotlight as a logistics hub. military in Afghanistan. The US has established bases in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. However, tensions over the issue human right led to the expulsion of US troops from Uzbekistan in 2005, and the closure of the Manas base in Kyrgyzstan in 2014.
Central Asian leaders today pursue a more pragmatic foreign policy. As Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has said: “We do not believe in zero-sum games. We want to replace the ‘Great Game’ with the ‘Great Good’ for all.”
“Effective geopolitics for Central Asia is not to align too closely with the US or any other major power, but to maintain an equal distance from all the superpowers,” said Chinara Esengul, an expert from the Peace Nexus Foundation.
There is still room for cooperation, however, especially in the areas of minerals and technology. Bruce Pannier points out that the US has recently placed greater emphasis on business relations with Central Asia, largely due to the need for strategic raw materials. Washington is also interested in developing an East-West trade corridor to bypass Russia.
It can be said that Central Asia's reserved attitude towards Mr. Trump's victory in the US is the result of the region's historical experience and pragmatic approach to international relations.
