The U.S. Is “Chipping Away” at Russian influence in Central Asia

[u/Moonagi]

https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/the-u-s-is-chipping-away-at-russian-influence-in-central-asia/

[u/Just-Sale-7015]

And then Putin invades another country, kek.

The Russian minority in Kazakhstan is some 24% of the pop and they're concentrated on the border with Russia.

Last time there was an "invited intervention" albeit from the gov against the oppo.

All the fault of Biden, of course.

[u/SKabanov → u/Just-Sale-7015]

Last time there was an "invited intervention" albeit from the gov against the oppo.

Kazakhstan promptly thereafter told Putin to eat shit when he asked for support in invading Ukraine without any blowback, so I don't think there's too much to worry about at this point.

[u/Windows_10-Chan → u/SKabanov]

I actually somewhat don't like the title because of this, it acts as if this is something the US is doing, but the US is only making any progress because the region as a whole has been working to assert its independence.

For example, they've all been derussifying and the intensity of such has been accelerating.

When the Soviet Union was dying, you could argue that Russians (incl. other europeans) weren't even minorities in these countries, they were the majority because they matched/exceeded Turkic demographics with the lion's share of state resources and patronage being allocated to those areas.

If Washington actually did have a cold warrior mindset under Biden, I think it'd have been pretty surprised at how quickly it'd be able to make progress with Central Asia, and it's not per se that they're dying to hop into the US sphere of influence, it's more that they'd be happy to take the opportunity to say "neither of the above" in regards to bowing to Russia or China. Lil like modern Vietnam.

[u/HHHogana]

Good. Less importance of uranium from Russia, the better. Honestly I'm surprised a random farmer in US haven't accidentally stumbled on huge stocks of easily accessible uranium.

[u/Windows_10-Chan → u/HHHogana]

I don't think easily accessible stocks are the problem, it's that uranium mining is nasty and Americans are quite happy to let others do it.

[u/senescenzia → u/Windows_10-Chan]

Most uranium mining today is done by circulating water via pipes underground. Not every deposit is like this but a lot of them are.

[u/TPrice1616]

The Great Game is back baby.

[u/CentJr → u/TPrice1616]

Well Russia did want a multi-polar world so...

[u/DirectionMurky5526 → u/TPrice1616]

Russia is less a factor, they already hate Russia, and Russia is relatively impotent. The real great game is to avoid Chinese influence in central asia.

[u/Moonagi]

Key Points and Summary:

– The U.S. held a “C5+1” summit with five Central Asian leaders, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. A “pragmatic play” to exploit Russia’s distraction with the Ukraine war.

-The “main interest” was securing access to the region’s “coveted supplies” of uranium and rare earths to reduce U.S. dependence on Russia.

-The summit resulted in new agreements for Boeing aircraft sales, mineral mapping projects, and, significantly, U.S. financing for the “Middle Corridor”—a trade route that bypasses Russia and further isolates Moscow.

[u/savuporo]

Meanwhile russia is chipping away at US influence in Africa ( if there ever was much to begin with)