Central Asian countries discuss water shortages and trade

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 17 Sep 2023 by Alex Teddy

---

On September 14 the presidents of the 5 countries met in Tajikistan. This is the 5th summit for Central Asian presidents. They started in 2018. They also invited the President of Azerbaijan. His country is not considered part of Central Asia, but it has a maritime border on the Caspian Sea with Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. The shortage of water is damaging crops and leading to low hydroelectric power yields. All the countries except Turkmenistan share the water of the Naryn Syr Darya Basin by a treaty. But they always squabble over water. Turkmenistan said it would sell gas and water to the others cheaply. Kazakhstan proposed industrial cooperation. Uzbekistan suggested a free trade zone and a shared electronic platform for customs. No firm agreements were made. The US is keen that the Central Asian republic develop an identity that excludes Russia. The Ukraine War provides an opportunity to step out of Russia's shadow. Russia still matters in the region but less than it did.  Notably, Central Asia is less worried about the Taliban than it was even a year ago but they discussed a terrorist attack in Tajikistan in September 2023 emanating from Afghanistan. In the 1990s Tajikistan was in a civil war that killed tens of thousands of people. Taliban types invaded and were only beaten because Russia and Kazakhstan sent troops. The Tajik President from that time is still in office.