Spotlight on Central Asia

This week, we'll be looking at Marco Rubio's visit to the region; Russian claims that NATO has been reaching out to Central Asian governments about establishing bases in the region; a new report attempting to quantify just how many Central Asians have been recruited to fight in Russia's war in Ukraine; and another round of skirmishes breaking out along the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border. We'll also be looking at the completion of the Wakhan Corridor transit route linking Kabul to Afghanistan's narrow border with China, a meeting between the daughters of three Central Asian leaders that could signal some interesting political developments ahead, and an OTS summit that may expose some much deeper problems for the organisation over the medium term. And then, for our main story this week, we'll be looking at the growing defence and security cooperation across the Caspian between Kazakhstan and Türkiye, and what that relationship could mean for the wider region. - Robert M. Cutler (NATO Association of Canada) Hosted by Bruce Pannier and Michael Hilliard

Proudly brought to you by The Times of Central Asia and The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs.

For more info, please visit:

-The Times of Central Asia (https://timesca.com/) - The Oxus Society (https://oxussociety.org/)

Follow us on Twitter on

- Spotlight on Central Asia (@SLonCentralAsia) - Bruce Pannier (@BrucePannier) - Michael Hilliard (@MikeHilliardAus) - The Times of Central Asia (@TheTimesoCA) - The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (@OxusSociety)

This week, we'll be looking at Marco Rubio's visit to the region; Russian claims that NATO has been reaching out to Central Asian governments about establishing bases in the region; a new report attempting to quantify just how many Central Asians have been recruited to fight in Russia's war in Ukraine; and another round of skirmishes breaking out along the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border. We'll also be looking at the completion of the Wakhan Corridor transit route linking Kabul to Afghanistan's narrow border with China, a meeting between the daughters of three Central Asian leaders that could signal some interesting political developments ahead, and an OTS summit that may expose some much deeper problems for the organisation over the medium term. And then, for our main story this week, we'll be looking at the growing defence and security cooperation across the Caspian between Kazakhstan and Türkiye, and what that relationship could mean for the wider region. - Robert M. Cutler (NATO Association of Canada) Hosted by Bruce Pannier and Michael Hilliard

Proudly brought to you by The Times of Central Asia and The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs.

For more info, please visit:

-The Times of Central Asia (https://timesca.com/) - The Oxus Society (https://oxussociety.org/)

Follow us on Twitter on

- Spotlight on Central Asia (@SLonCentralAsia) - Bruce Pannier (@BrucePannier) - Michael Hilliard (@MikeHilliardAus) - The Times of Central Asia (@TheTimesoCA) - The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (@OxusSociety)

This week, we'll be looking at Marco Rubio's visit to the region; Russian claims that NATO has been reaching out to Central Asian governments about establishing bases in the region; a new report attempting to quantify just how many Central Asians have been recruited to fight in Russia's war in Ukraine; and another round of skirmishes breaking out along the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border. We'll also be looking at the completion of the Wakhan Corridor transit route linking Kabul to Afghanistan's narrow border with China, a meeting between the daughters of three Central Asian leaders that could signal some interesting political developments ahead, and an OTS summit that may expose some much deeper problems for the organisation over the medium term. And then, for our main story this week, we'll be looking at the growing defence and security cooperation across the Caspian between Kazakhstan and Türkiye, and what that relationship could mean for the wider region. - Robert M. Cutler (NATO Association of Canada) Hosted by Bruce Pannier and Michael Hilliard

Proudly brought to you by The Times of Central Asia and The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs.

For more info, please visit:

-The Times of Central Asia (https://timesca.com/) - The Oxus Society (https://oxussociety.org/)

Follow us on Twitter on

- Spotlight on Central Asia (@SLonCentralAsia) - Bruce Pannier (@BrucePannier) - Michael Hilliard (@MikeHilliardAus) - The Times of Central Asia (@TheTimesoCA) - The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (@OxusSociety)

This week, we'll be looking at Marco Rubio's visit to the region; Russian claims that NATO has been reaching out to Central Asian governments about establishing bases in the region; a new report attempting to quantify just how many Central Asians have been recruited to fight in Russia's war in Ukraine; and another round of skirmishes breaking out along the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border. We'll also be looking at the completion of the Wakhan Corridor transit route linking Kabul to Afghanistan's narrow border with China, a meeting between the daughters of three Central Asian leaders that could signal some interesting political developments ahead, and an OTS summit that may expose some much deeper problems for the organisation over the medium term. And then, for our main story this week, we'll be looking at the growing defence and security cooperation across the Caspian between Kazakhstan and Türkiye, and what that relationship could mean for the wider region. - Robert M. Cutler (NATO Association of Canada) Hosted by Bruce Pannier and Michael Hilliard

Proudly brought to you by The Times of Central Asia and The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs.

For more info, please visit:

-The Times of Central Asia (https://timesca.com/) - The Oxus Society (https://oxussociety.org/)

Follow us on Twitter on

- Spotlight on Central Asia (@SLonCentralAsia) - Bruce Pannier (@BrucePannier) - Michael Hilliard (@MikeHilliardAus) - The Times of Central Asia (@TheTimesoCA) - The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (@OxusSociety)

This week, we'll be looking at Marco Rubio's visit to the region; Russian claims that NATO has been reaching out to Central Asian governments about establishing bases in the region; a new report attempting to quantify just how many Central Asians have been recruited to fight in Russia's war in Ukraine; and another round of skirmishes breaking out along the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border. We'll also be looking at the completion of the Wakhan Corridor transit route linking Kabul to Afghanistan's narrow border with China, a meeting between the daughters of three Central Asian leaders that could signal some interesting political developments ahead, and an OTS summit that may expose some much deeper problems for the organisation over the medium term. And then, for our main story this week, we'll be looking at the growing defence and security cooperation across the Caspian between Kazakhstan and Türkiye, and what that relationship could mean for the wider region. - Robert M. Cutler (NATO Association of Canada) Hosted by Bruce Pannier and Michael Hilliard

Proudly brought to you by The Times of Central Asia and The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs.

For more info, please visit:

-The Times of Central Asia (https://timesca.com/) - The Oxus Society (https://oxussociety.org/)

Follow us on Twitter on

- Spotlight on Central Asia (@SLonCentralAsia) - Bruce Pannier (@BrucePannier) - Michael Hilliard (@MikeHilliardAus) - The Times of Central Asia (@TheTimesoCA) - The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (@OxusSociety)

This week, we'll be looking at Marco Rubio's visit to the region; Russian claims that NATO has been reaching out to Central Asian governments about establishing bases in the region; a new report attempting to quantify just how many Central Asians have been recruited to fight in Russia's war in Ukraine; and another round of skirmishes breaking out along the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border. We'll also be looking at the completion of the Wakhan Corridor transit route linking Kabul to Afghanistan's narrow border with China, a meeting between the daughters of three Central Asian leaders that could signal some interesting political developments ahead, and an OTS summit that may expose some much deeper problems for the organisation over the medium term. And then, for our main story this week, we'll be looking at the growing defence and security cooperation across the Caspian between Kazakhstan and Türkiye, and what that relationship could mean for the wider region. - Robert M. Cutler (NATO Association of Canada) Hosted by Bruce Pannier and Michael Hilliard

Proudly brought to you by The Times of Central Asia and The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs.

For more info, please visit:

-The Times of Central Asia (https://timesca.com/) - The Oxus Society (https://oxussociety.org/)

Follow us on Twitter on

- Spotlight on Central Asia (@SLonCentralAsia) - Bruce Pannier (@BrucePannier) - Michael Hilliard (@MikeHilliardAus) - The Times of Central Asia (@TheTimesoCA) - The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (@OxusSociety)

This week, we'll be looking at Marco Rubio's visit to the region; Russian claims that NATO has been reaching out to Central Asian governments about establishing bases in the region; a new report attempting to quantify just how many Central Asians have been recruited to fight in Russia's war in Ukraine; and another round of skirmishes breaking out along the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border. We'll also be looking at the completion of the Wakhan Corridor transit route linking Kabul to Afghanistan's narrow border with China, a meeting between the daughters of three Central Asian leaders that could signal some interesting political developments ahead, and an OTS summit that may expose some much deeper problems for the organisation over the medium term. And then, for our main story this week, we'll be looking at the growing defence and security cooperation across the Caspian between Kazakhstan and Türkiye, and what that relationship could mean for the wider region. - Robert M. Cutler (NATO Association of Canada) Hosted by Bruce Pannier and Michael Hilliard

Proudly brought to you by The Times of Central Asia and The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs.

For more info, please visit:

-The Times of Central Asia (https://timesca.com/) - The Oxus Society (https://oxussociety.org/)

Follow us on Twitter on

- Spotlight on Central Asia (@SLonCentralAsia) - Bruce Pannier (@BrucePannier) - Michael Hilliard (@MikeHilliardAus) - The Times of Central Asia (@TheTimesoCA) - The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (@OxusSociety)

This week, we'll be looking at Marco Rubio's visit to the region; Russian claims that NATO has been reaching out to Central Asian governments about establishing bases in the region; a new report attempting to quantify just how many Central Asians have been recruited to fight in Russia's war in Ukraine; and another round of skirmishes breaking out along the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border. We'll also be looking at the completion of the Wakhan Corridor transit route linking Kabul to Afghanistan's narrow border with China, a meeting between the daughters of three Central Asian leaders that could signal some interesting political developments ahead, and an OTS summit that may expose some much deeper problems for the organisation over the medium term. And then, for our main story this week, we'll be looking at the growing defence and security cooperation across the Caspian between Kazakhstan and Türkiye, and what that relationship could mean for the wider region. - Robert M. Cutler (NATO Association of Canada) Hosted by Bruce Pannier and Michael Hilliard

Proudly brought to you by The Times of Central Asia and The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs.

For more info, please visit:

-The Times of Central Asia (https://timesca.com/) - The Oxus Society (https://oxussociety.org/)

Follow us on Twitter on

- Spotlight on Central Asia (@SLonCentralAsia) - Bruce Pannier (@BrucePannier) - Michael Hilliard (@MikeHilliardAus) - The Times of Central Asia (@TheTimesoCA) - The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (@OxusSociety)

This week, we'll be looking at Marco Rubio's visit to the region; Russian claims that NATO has been reaching out to Central Asian governments about establishing bases in the region; a new report attempting to quantify just how many Central Asians have been recruited to fight in Russia's war in Ukraine; and another round of skirmishes breaking out along the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border. We'll also be looking at the completion of the Wakhan Corridor transit route linking Kabul to Afghanistan's narrow border with China, a meeting between the daughters of three Central Asian leaders that could signal some interesting political developments ahead, and an OTS summit that may expose some much deeper problems for the organisation over the medium term. And then, for our main story this week, we'll be looking at the growing defence and security cooperation across the Caspian between Kazakhstan and Türkiye, and what that relationship could mean for the wider region. - Robert M. Cutler (NATO Association of Canada) Hosted by Bruce Pannier and Michael Hilliard

Proudly brought to you by The Times of Central Asia and The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs.

For more info, please visit:

-The Times of Central Asia (https://timesca.com/) - The Oxus Society (https://oxussociety.org/)

Follow us on Twitter on

- Spotlight on Central Asia (@SLonCentralAsia) - Bruce Pannier (@BrucePannier) - Michael Hilliard (@MikeHilliardAus) - The Times of Central Asia (@TheTimesoCA) - The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (@OxusSociety)

This week, we'll be looking at Kyrgyzstan carrying out a new round of arrests in the run-up to the country's upcoming presidential elections, including the son of a former president; new immigration and foreign-worker quotas being introduced in the country; increasingly ominous warnings from Russia's foreign minister toward the region; and a renewed outbreak of fighting along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border that is already creating serious problems on both sides. We'll also be looking at an almost unprecedented wave of resignations and replacements across the senior ranks of Central Asia's military and security establishments, as well as Kazakhstan moving to dismiss a significant portion of its Supreme Court. And then, for our main story this week, we'll be speaking with one of the region's most prominent human rights activists, fresh from a major international human rights conference, about some increasingly dire warnings for the future of rights and political freedoms across Central Asia. - Leila Nazgül Seiitbek (Freedom for Eurasia) Hosted by Bruce Pannier and Michael Hilliard

Proudly brought to you by The Times of Central Asia and The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs.

For more info, please visit:

-The Times of Central Asia (https://timesca.com/) - The Oxus Society (https://oxussociety.org/)

Follow us on Twitter on

- Spotlight on Central Asia (@SLonCentralAsia) - Bruce Pannier (@BrucePannier) - Michael Hilliard (@MikeHilliardAus) - The Times of Central Asia (@TheTimesoCA) - The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs (@OxusSociety)