Photo: Róbert Hegedüs
Joakim Scheffer
27/03/2024 10:20
What do you see as Central Asia’s role in today’s changing world order?
It is no coincidence that the region garners a significant amount of attention, as it is a key priority area not only for Eurasia as a whole but also for the Global South. The major players all aspire to establish a presence in Central Asia. It is unsurprising that Russia seeks to strengthen its traditional influence, particularly in the aftermath of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which has somewhat redirected Moscow’s foreign policy focus. The United States is also keen on maintaining ongoing and stable relations with the region, as evidenced by several senior US officials having visited recently. China’s presence in Central Asia is crucial for economic, business, and military reasons. In addition to the traditional powers, Türkiye should also not be overlooked; Ankara has established numerous universities there as a result of the Turkic friendship and is also involved in economic and business activities. It is important to note that the region is significant not only from an economic but also from a security perspective. A security vacuum has emerged in Afghanistan with the withdrawal of Washington and NATO, and the impact of this vacuum is being felt by these countries. They are traversed by routes that could affect the security not only of the region but also of the wider international community in terms of terrorism.
Despite this, the West still discusses the region in a predominantly negative tone. Could this change in the near future?
Clearly, there can be a disparity between the political agenda and reality. My personal experience confirms that those who matter all want to be present in Central Asia. This is not only due to its status as a substantial emerging market or its role as a major food supplier for the wider region but also because of its innovative political systems, significant reserves of raw materials, and a strong aspiration to compete with the leading global powers in the world economy. From this perspective, it is evident that Europe may perceive the region as a competitor. However, the reality is that in various economic sectors, as well as in terms of innovation and education, influential players aim to establish a presence. Central Asia has undeniably become an indispensable focal point.
You recently visited Central Asia in person as an observer in the Uzbek presidential elections. What was your experience?
Before that, the last time I was in Tashkent was in the 1980s, which was a completely different world, the Soviet Union still existed. Witnessing the remarkable development in the region was truly astounding. It is a very friendly, very direct community, an open civilisation with a lot of values. It is worth noting that the locals exhibit a favourable bias towards Hungary. They express a keen interest in our current affairs and are eager for the knowledge and experiences we have gained within the European community to be shared with the younger generation in their midst.
