U.S. Central Asia Strategy (-- years): Advancing Sovereignty and Economic Prosperity

Key Chapter Title List

1. Preface
2. Core Principles
3. Policy Objectives
4. Supporting and Strengthening the Sovereignty and Independence of Central Asian States
5. Reducing the Terrorism Threat in Central Asia
6. Expanding and Sustaining Support for Afghanistan's Stability
7. Promoting Connectivity between Central Asia and Afghanistan
8. Advancing Rule of Law Reforms and Respect for Human Rights
9. Promoting U.S. Investment and Development in Central Asia
10. Global Multilateral Diplomacy
11. C5+1 Diplomatic Platform
12. Vision

Document Introduction

As one of the first countries to recognize the independence of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, the United States has been committed for three decades to supporting the security, development, and prosperity of the Central Asian region. Central Asia, as the strategic and commercial crossroads of Eurasian civilization, has its stability and prosperity directly linked to core U.S. interests in combating terrorism, maintaining regional stability, ensuring energy security, and promoting global economic prosperity. This forms the core background of the "United States Strategy for Central Asia (2019-2025)".

This strategy inherits the fundamental assessment of key regional developments from the 2015 version, clearly stating that domestic and cross-border terrorism, radical extremism, illicit drug trafficking, and disinformation remain the primary threats to the stability of Central Asian states. Simultaneously, based on new regional dynamics—new national leaderships driving reforms, deepening intra-regional connectivity and cooperation, and the expanded cooperation potential of the C5+1 platform—the strategy establishes six mutually reinforcing core policy objectives, forming a systematic strategic implementation framework.

Regarding the implementation foundation and cooperative measures, the United States has provided over $9 billion in direct assistance to Central Asia and led multilateral development banks in providing over $50 billion in credit, loans, and technical support, with private sector investments cumulatively exceeding $31 billion. Furthermore, the U.S. has built robust people-to-people ties through over 40,000 student and professional exchange programs, funded over 70 cultural heritage preservation projects, and enhanced regional security capabilities through military cooperation such as the "Steppe Eagle" joint exercises and the State Partnership Program, investing over $90 million in border security, conducting over 200 training sessions, and establishing 13 operational border posts.

The strategy's six specific objectives include: supporting the sovereignty and independence of Central Asian states both individually and as a regional whole, enhancing regional cooperation and economic autonomy through projects like unified power grids; reducing the terrorism threat, building resilience against extremism, and strengthening law enforcement and border security capabilities; expanding support for Afghanistan's stability and promoting economic and trade links between Central Asian states and Afghanistan; promoting connectivity between Central Asia and Afghanistan in energy, economy, security, and other fields, advancing the CASA-1000 power project and the Lapis Lazuli Corridor; advancing rule of law reforms and respect for human rights, strengthening civil society participation and government accountability; optimizing the business environment, promoting U.S. investment in Central Asia, and cultivating talent suited for the 21st-century economy through education reform.

The C5+1 diplomatic platform, as a core multilateral cooperation mechanism, brings together representatives from the five Central Asian states and the United States to address shared concerns. The U.S. has invested $34 million in projects under this platform in the areas of security, economic connectivity, and the environment. The strategy emphasizes that regardless of the level of U.S. engagement in Afghanistan, Central Asia remains a geostrategic area vital to U.S. national security interests. The United States will focus cooperation in areas of its comparative advantage, avoid creating regional dependency, and coordinate with like-minded partners to jointly promote regional reform and development.

The effective implementation of this strategy aims to propel Central Asia into a stable, secure, deeply connected with the United States, open, and inclusive region. It will both assist Central Asian states in strengthening their economic and political sovereignty and regional cooperation capabilities, and advance U.S. national interests, the dissemination of its values, and the expansion of commercial opportunities, providing significant external impetus for the region's balanced development.