On 21–22 May 2025, Dr. Shairbek Dzhuraev, President of Crossroads Central Asia, spoke at the Asian Leadership Conference (ALC) in Seoul. Held under the theme “The Rise of Nations: Pathways to Great Prosperity,” the conference brought together global leaders to explore how countries can build resilience and achieve long-term prosperity amidst shifting geopolitical dynamics.
Two well-worn — yet enduring — metaphors are often used to describe the region: the “Great Game,” which casts Central Asia as a passive battleground for global powers, and the “Great Silk Road,” which presents it as a dynamic hub of connectivity. Acknowledging the limits of these narratives, Dr. Dzhuraev used them as a starting point to offer three core observations on the region’s evolving international role.
- Central Asia is strategically situated—but politically bypassed
Central Asia sits at the crossroads of major powers, each with distinct modes of engagement. Russia’s presence remains deep but increasingly uncertain in light of its war in Ukraine. China has become the region’s largest economic partner, yet its engagement remains limited in cultural and human dimensions. The United States, meanwhile, approaches the region primarily through the lens of strategic concerns linked to Russia, China, and Afghanistan.
While all three powers shape the region’s choices, their rivalries do not translate into clear alliances. Instead, they compel Central Asia to balance, hedge, and maneuver—a skill the region has increasingly mastered.
- Diversification is Central Asia’s main foreign policy logic
Faced with structural constraints—landlocked geography, limited infrastructure, and reliance on a narrow range of export routes—Central Asian states have embraced diversification not as a strategic ideal but as a necessity. Beyond the major powers, they have deepened ties with Turkey, the European Union, Gulf countries, India, Korea, and Japan. Formats like C5+1, in which South Korea was a pioneer, have become a regular feature of regional diplomacy.
This diversification seeks not only to broaden economic opportunities but also to reduce geopolitical vulnerability and strengthen the region’s autonomy in foreign policymaking.
- Central Asia should not settle for transit corridor status
The global shocks of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine have drawn renewed attention to Central Asia’s role in overland trade between Europe and East Asia. With maritime routes and Russian transit corridors becoming increasingly unreliable, the region has emerged as a key logistics artery.
However, Dr. Dzhuraev cautioned against embracing the notion of “corridor status” too readily. While new infrastructure and transit routes are welcome, he emphasized that Central Asia must avoid becoming merely a passageway between “proper rooms.” As he argued, “the region should not settle for being a geography that connects other people’s destinations. It must become a destination in its own right—a room of its own, not just a corridor in between.”
Achieving this requires transforming geographic centrality into economic centrality—through value-added production, regional integration, and long-term investment in human capital and innovation.
Dr. Dzhuraev concluded by noting that Central Asia is on a clearly positive trajectory, projecting confidence and seeking partnerships that reflect a renewed approach to international engagement. What will be critical going forward, he emphasized, is how inter-state and intra-state processes — particularly political leadership and governance — evolve to capitalize on the emerging context and to consolidate the region’s stability and development.
Crossroads Central Asia is proud to contribute to global conversations about Central Asia and its wider neighbourhood.