What seemed like sweet deals with Central Asian energy producers just about a year ago is turning into albatross contracts for Gazprom, Russia's suddenly embattled natural gas conglomerate.
Once Kyrgyzstan succumbed to Russian pressure and unceremoniously evicted the United States from its base at Manas, media attention turned to the question of alternatives. A careful discussion of possible alternatives to Manas requires that a distinction be made between routes for non-military logistics, and facilities from which military missions can and do take place.
In a cramped and dimly lit apartment in one of New York City's predominantly Russian neighborhoods, three Kyrgyz women share a room. Each has traveled more than a fourth of the distance around the globe to get here, and their goal is clear: make money, use a little of it to get by, and send most of it back home.
Media outlets in Central Asia are putting different spin on comments about the use of scarce water resources that were made during the recent summit between Turkmenistan's leader, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, and his Uzbek counterpart, Islam Karimov.
US President Barack Obama has reportedly settled on his choice for the top civilian defense official for Central Asia, tapping a bookish young Afghanistan veteran to fill the post. The selection seems to indicate that Obama is valuing fresh thinking over policy experience.
Security threats are rapidly shifting in Central Asia, according to the America's intelligence chief. Hazards faced by the United States coming from Central Asia are now more likely to be connected to economic factors, than to Islamic radicalism.
Security threats are rapidly shifting in Central Asia, according to the America's intelligence chief. Hazards faced by the United States coming from Central Asia are now more likely to be connected to economic factors, than to Islamic radicalism.
Speculating over the future of the US air base in Kyrgyzstan is a popular pastime in Central Asian capitals these days. The general consensus is that Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev is taking a gamble, playing a waiting game in the expectation that Washington will come up with more money to retain Manas air base.
Speculating over the future of the US air base in Kyrgyzstan is a popular pastime in Central Asian capitals these days. The general consensus is that Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev is taking a gamble, playing a waiting game in the expectation that Washington will come up with more money to retain Manas air base.
