Description
The record of Central Asian integration has generally been one of disappointment and failure. Numerous initiatives and institutional frameworks for Central Asian integration have been established but these have generally failed to gain momentum and have done little to achieve their objectives. However over the last five years with the new leaderships in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, there has been a significant shift to a more pro-active and positive dynamic towards regional cooperation and integration. However, this dynamic is not institution-driven; it is rather cautious and pragmatism exercise of what can be called ‘trust-building’. This trust-building has three key policy dimensions; support for political rapprochement, economic connectivity, and defensive management of external great powers. The progress made is still fragile and tentative and is significantly threatened by the repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
