Exploring China’s growing role in Central Asia
China's engagement with Central Asia has deepened considerably over the past two decades, manifesting in substantial economic, political, and infrastructure investments. This sustained interest has transformed China into an increasingly piv
Hormuz Crisis Has Supercharged The Middle Corridor Trade Route
The prevailing instability surrounding access to the Strait of Hormuz, stemming from persistent tensions between the United States and Iran, is compelling a significant re-evaluation of Eurasian trade routes. This environment of heightened
The marble mirage: Ashgabat’s record-breaking facade contradicts Turkmenistan’s reality
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan’s capital, presents an arresting spectacle: a city almost entirely clad in gleaming white marble, a record-holder for its sheer density of Italian stone. This monochromatic landscape, blinding under the Central Asian
The 'Decommunization' Of Dushanbe
Dushanbe is undergoing a relentless demolition and development drive, vividly documented in before-and-after images. Many locals now struggle to recognise their own capital, testament to the profound and rapid changes fundamentally challeng
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Trade in 2025: Partners and Trends
Kazakhstan’s foreign trade in 2025 demonstrated continued expansion in overall turnover, yet underlying shifts in export revenues and import growth presented a more complex picture for the Central Asian nation. While trade remained a crucia
Kazakhstan has a new constitution. What’s next?
Kazakhstan recently endorsed a new Constitution in a nationwide referendum, with the government framing this as the culmination of a "transformation of the state" and the advent of a "New Kazakhstan." This formal shift, approved overwhelmin
Kazakhstan's Mineral Wealth Draws Western Investment — But on Whose Terms?
As the EU and US compete with China for access to rare earths, Astana is playing all sides with growing confidence — a sign of a country that has learned to monetize its geography.
Tajikistan’s Debt to China: A New Dependency?
Half of Tajikistan’s external debt is now owed to a single creditor in Beijing. New loan terms reveal a quietly tightening grip.
The SCO Paradox: Security Without Trust
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation just held its largest summit ever. The agreed agenda, like always, is the agenda no member actually believes in.