Narendra Modi in Central Asia: Deepening Friendship and Searching for New Horizons

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and participated in the SCO summit in Bishkek.

India–Central Asia: New Impulse for Multifaceted Cooperation

New Delhi’s heightened interest in the Central Asian region is no coincidence and is linked to many factors, among which the rich energy and mineral resources of the states located there are of great importance. Additionally, India wishes to counterbalance the influence of other powers in these strategically significant countries, primarily China, the United States, and, of course, Pakistan, with which New Delhi is in a state of permanent confrontation and rivalry. Despite existing geopolitical barriers, i.e., the Afghan, Pakistani, and Chinese factors, India is rather skillfully striving to overcome these obstacles and bring the countries of the region closer to itself in the interests of its own, including energy and security. It is clear that India is highly interested in supplies from the region of oil, gas, gold, copper, fertilizers, uranium, and other critically important minerals.

At the same time, it cannot but be concerned about the continuously alarming situation in Afghanistan; the threat of the spread of terrorism, extremism, and instability to its border territories; as well as the lack – unlike in the case of China and Pakistan – of direct land access and a land corridor to Central Asia. Such geographical remoteness, combined with the Afghan, Pakistani, and Chinese factors, makes the implementation of the ambitious international North-South transport corridor using rail, sea, and road transport through the territories of Russia, Turkmenistan, Iran, and the Caspian Sea the only option for India.

India Solidifies Itself in Central Asia

That is why back in 2012 New Delhi put forward the “Connect Central Asia” initiative – a comprehensive strategy for developing cooperation with the countries of the region — and is consistently striving to promote its influence in the states of the region. One must give credit to Indian diplomacy, which has succeeded in strengthening partnerships with all Central Asian players,........

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