Thousands of Central Asians are believed to have joined Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, including women who were coerced or lured by offers of lucrative jobs.
Bishkek is hosting the B5+1 Forum this week, bringing together officials and business leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the United States to explore investment opportunities and deepen economic ties.
Tensions are rising again in Uzbekistan’s eastern Andijon Region, where farmers say they are being coerced into “voluntarily” surrendering their land to local authorities -- plots many believe will later be transferred to Chinese investors.
Since early autumn, the Uzbek capital of Tashkent has ranked among the cities with the dirtiest air. After a special commission was made, officials have been conducting anti-pollution raids on businesses. But public outrage erupted after video emerged of an official smashing traditional ovens.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is in the middle of a three-country tour of Central Asia focused on shoring up Chinese influence after a month where the region has been in Washington’s diplomatic spotlight due to its strategic mineral wealth.
Afghanistan is looking to Central Asia to diversify its trade partners as it seeks to reduce its long-established economic dependence on Pakistan, its eastern neighbor.
One week after Central Asian leaders signed billions in strategic new deals in Washington, the Kazakh president is visiting the Kremlin to reaffirm the relationship with Russia.
At a summit in Washington between the presidents of five Central Asian countries and US President Donald Trump, officials announced a slew of trade deals cementing US investment in the region. Trump also announced that Kazakhstan had agreed to join the Abraham Accords.
US President Donald Trump unveiled a slew of trade, diplomatic, and mineral deals at a summit with Central Asia’s five leaders as Kazakhstan announced plans to join the Abraham Accords.
The presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are set to meet US President Donald Trump on November 6 for talks that are likely to include rare-earth minerals and other resources in the Central Asian nations. RFE/RL's Margot Buff is in Washington D.C.
US President Donald Trump will host Central Asian leaders in Washington on November 6 for a high-profile summit where the region’s vast deposits of critical and rare earth minerals are set to take center stage.
Thousands of teachers, health workers, and other civil servants have been mobilized to pick cotton across Central Asia, despite official pledges to end forced labor.
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