Central Asia: The Tug of War between the US, Russia and China

Abstract

Central Asia has gained importance in geopolitics due to its economic importance. This has developed interest of leading global powers, inter alia, the USA, Russia and China. This article attempts to examine the “New Great Game” being played in the region.  The tug of war to gain control over energy routes and maintain political dominance has intensified since the fall of the Soviet Union. Russia desires to maintain its historical dominance by controlling energy exports from the region. China has been steadily developing its presence through economic investments, infrastructure developments and energy partnerships.  Whereas the USA has been trying to mark its presence by diversifying global energy routes and by extending security cooperation in the region. The post-Russia-Ukraine scenario has also been taken into account. The research suggests that there has been a growing convergence between Russia and China against Western influence, alongside a continuous competition between three major actors. It concludes that Central Asia remains a strategically contested space where cooperation and rivalry coexist, shaping the region’s future as a potential global economic and energy hub.