Central Asia: Key to Engaging China and Russia

In Central Asia, China and Russia are emphasizing upon raising levels of cooperation between themselves for mutual benefit over other competing players. In effect, they have split responsibilities in the region, with Russia focusing on security issues and China contributing mainly to economic development issues, particularly through investment in infrastructure. Chinese and Russian interests overlap as both see the value of promoting regional integration as a way to common prosperity. While India’s relations with Central Asia go back 3000 years into history; India’s role in Central Asia however, is now pushed to the margins because India lacks direct connectivity to the region. Central Asia contains vast reserves of energy and is located at key crossroads that connect East with West and North with South. But do the Russia-India-China (RIC) strategic and economic interests converge in Central Asia? How can the three powers engage with each other to further their priorities in the region? How are they finding ways to cooperate? Amid a changing world order, it is important to investigate the engagement of RIC in Central Asia.

About the Author

Colonel Deepak Kumar is a serving officer of the Indian Army. A graduate of Long Gunnery and Defence Services Staff College Courses, he commanded a Field Artillery Regiment and has been an Instructor in the Indian Army School of Artillery, Devlali. The officer has taken part in Operation Vijay, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Parakram and Operation Rakshak. He has been awarded Army Commander’s and Chief of Army Staff Commendation Cards. He has written extensively on international conflicts, strategic issue and military history.
Colonel Deepak Kumar is currently a Research Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP- IDSA), New Delhi.