Article: https://timesca.com/the-board-of-peace-and-central-asia-asserting-agency-in-a-fragmented-order/
This article discusses the role of Central Asian states at the first meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington D.C. and their relations with the U.S. on this topic. The article states that a pattern seen in most Central Asian states such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan was that they are trying to create more interdependence within the Central Asian Region. This aligns with the objective of the Board of Peace to promote more cooperation between states in order to protect peace within a region. Central Asian states also want to promote interdependence within their region to reduce their reliance on states such as Russia and China in order to maintain stability in the region.
The stance of Central Asian states at the recent meeting of the Board of Peace reflects a shift in policy regarding relations with other states, specifically hegemonic powers. Historically, Central Asian states such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have maintained close alliances with Russia and China through economic and military ties. However, the decision to create interdependence within the region in order to withdraw from their alliances with much larger states suggests that they are attempting to secure their region by minimizing their involvement in conflicts in Russia and China such as the war in Ukraine and tensions between China and Taiwan and the U.S.
Central Asian states may continue to withdraw from hegemonic powers by developing domestic institutions and industries through diplomacy and collaboration between various Central Asian states. In order to effectively develop various crucial industries which they had been dependent on Russia and China for such as, energy and military backing in the region, they might diversify their alliances with each other to include more countries in energy and security initiatives to fill the gap left by more powerful countries. Because of the extent of Russia and China’s influence and involvement in the Central Asian region, these actions might not immediately or significantly diminish their power in the region, but it does signal that Central Asian states want more power within their alliance, giving them power to further influence decisions and policy making with Russia and China.
This connects to IB Global Politics concepts such as sovereignty and interdependence. It shows the ways in which states protect their sovereignty and stability from invasive alliances or from unstable states. This is seen with Central Asian states feeling the need to reduce their involvement with Russia and China in order to avoid current conflicts in the two countries and protect their sovereignty. Further, this issue shows interdependence through the relations Central Asian states are developing with each other in order to become more independent without becoming isolated.