NEW FAC REPORT: Countries at a Crossroads: UK engagement in Central Asia

A Beijing to Britain briefing note

Good morning,

Today, the Foreign Affairs Committee publishes a new report examining the UK’s (lack of) strategy towards Central Asia. ‘Countries at a Crossroads: UK engagement in Central Asia’ is the culmination of several months of witness evidence, discussions and hearings.

Spanning eight chapters, the report opens by stating that “the deepening of UK engagement in Central Asia not only has the potential to be mutually beneficial but also should be seen as a geopolitical imperative”, because “the UK’s response to the manoeuvring of Russia, China and others can have a significant impact on the economic and political independence of Central Asian countries.” It focuses on each of the five Central Asian countries (CA5): Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, providing both snapshot overviews and recommendations for the Government to be “considerably bolder and more ambitious in approaches to trade, human rights, regional cooperation, cultural exchange, and the environment.” Although the Committee attempts to separate engagement with the CA5 from being purely about countering Russian and Chinese influence in the region, Moscow and Beijing feature at length. Indeed, one of the driving questions put to witnesses was:

• “Where do the relationships between Central Asian states and neighbouring countries, including the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation, pose challenges for UK foreign policy, and where do they provide opportunities?”

Today’s Beijing to Britain briefing note breaks down the main points from the report, contextualising its recommendations and adding insight you can action.