In early November 2015, US Secretary of State John Kerry toured all five former Soviet republics in Central Asia. It was the first such visit by a top United States diplomat to the region, long regarded by Russia as its backyard and “sphere of privileged interest.” Kerry’s regional tour was also marked by the launch of a comprehensive C5+1 dialogue format between the United States and Central Asian countries, at the foreign ministers level (Uza.uz, November 1; see EDM, November 30).
According to US Ambassador to Uzbekistan Pamela L. Spratlen, the Secretary of State’s visit to Central Asia pursued four main …read more
Source: The Jamestown Foundation
