U.S. and Russia Split Central Asia

During his trip to Central Asia, head of U.S. Central Command David Petraeus visited Turkmenia, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The visit has gone right. In Ashkhabad, Bishkek and Tashkent, he received assurances of the countries’ desires to expand and strengthen their cooperation with Washington.

On Tuesday, President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan received Petraeus in his Oqsaroy residence. This was their second meeting this year. As in February, the parties exchanged opinions on the prospects for bilateral relations, in addition to other issues of mutual interest, which are, obviously, numerous.

In fact, after the renowned “Andizhan events” and Tashkent’s refusal to permit Western experts to investigate, the U.S. froze its relations with Uzbekistan. A few years passed before Washington chose to temper justice with mercy and partially canceled the economic sanctions. In response, the Uzbek side informed the West that it had no intentions of cooperating exclusively with Moscow. During the recent incident with the Manas airbase in Kyrgyzstan, Tashkent demonstrated its eagerness to build relations by offering the U.S. its services as an alternative. It has also shown complaisance regarding the transit of cargo to Afghanistan.

Obviously, Uzbekistan’s strategy couldn’t remain unnoticed, and a statement by David Petraeus during his meeting with Islam Karimov wasn’t just a tribute to diplomatic etiquette. He said that the current U.S. administration is extremely interested in cooperation in the various spheres. The President of Uzbekistan, in turn, assured his visitor that he “places great value on further development of the relations with the U.S.” and is “ready to expand constructive bilateral and multilateral cooperation, based on the principles of mutual respect and equal partnership.” This is not a simple statement of reciprocity.

Uzbekistan, pretending to play the role of a regional leader, needs serious investments to make use of its powerful economic potential. The global financial crisis has reduced the number of potential investors for Tashkent. Its hope for Moscow’s help, prior to the renewal of the relations with the West, were only partially justified. Russia also has financial problems now and Uzbekistan cannot count on its investment.

On the other hand, Islam Karimov has tended to maintain a multilateral foreign policy that does not put all his eggs in one basket. Therefore, a significant warming in the relations with the U.S. is very convenient. In addition, the situation in the region has become heated due to the activation of radical Islamic organizations.

The press service of the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan made an announcement about the visit of the Pentagon representative. It announced that David Petraeus met with high-ranking official representatives from the Council of National Security, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, external economic relations, investments and trade.

The message read, “the Head of USCENTCOM discussed with the Uzbek authorities the key problems of regional security, in particular, those concerning Afghanistan.”

David Petraeus discussed the same questions in Bishkek with Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Kadyrbek Sarbaev, to whom the visitor expressed gratitude for the creation of a Center for Transport (CTT) to replace the Manas airbase. The term for the dislocation of the U.S. Air Forces’ Manas airbase officially expired on August 18. Right now, practically the same functions are fulfilled by CTT. The transportation of coalition military forces and military and humanitarian cargoes to Afghanistan and the refilling of planes of all coalition types will be carried out at this center.

Having expressed his gratitude for such cooperation, David Petraeus also sent his congratulations to Minister of Foreign Affairs Kurmanbek Bakiyev with regard to his recent victory in the presidential elections. The Kyrgyz minister, in turn, reassured his guest that Bishkek attaches great importance to the development of relations with the U.S. and expressed hope for continued constructive partnership.

On Wednesday, the press service of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the two parties discussed questions of bilateral military and political cooperation and regional safety, including the struggle against terrorism and drug trafficking and the situation in Afghanistan.

The Deputy Director of the Institute of CIS countries, Vladimir Zharikhin, deemed U.S. activities in Central Asia “explainable and in coordination with Russia.” “The Presidents of the U.S. and RF have agreed on the transportation of cargoes to Afghanistan through Russian territory. We do not border Afghanistan, so the U.S. and NATO have to agree directly with the Central Asian leaders.” Another story is that, when carrying out joint tasks, the U.S. tries to strengthen its own influence in this or that area by offering financial aid or by other “pleasant methods.”

Washington’s activities should not come as a surprise for Moscow. “Russia knew what was going to happen, making an agreement with the U.S. with regard to Afghanistan,” declared Zharikhin. According to him, there’s no threat to Russia’s geopolitical interests in Central Asia yet, except for the one that comes from Afghanistan, as “Talibs have become more active, and this can affect us.”