After a decisive victory, former President Donald J. Trump is gearing up to return to the White House. As is the case with second-term presidents removed from the constraints of reelection, President-elect Trump is likely to pursue policies he believes in, especially in the global arena where American chief executives enjoy wide latitude of action. Trump will be assuming office at a moment of growing global disorder. Dealing with it will require out-of-the-box thinking and new partners, especially in Eurasia.

In this chaotic age of intensifying conflicts, largely fueled by great power competition, a second tier of nations are asserting themselves. Increasingly known as the “Middle Powers,” states in different regions of the world, such as Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, or Poland, driven by a combination of threats and opportunities, are trying to play a role in the management of a global architecture under increasing stress and strain. One such emergent player is Kazakhstan, with its unique positioning between Russia, China, and the United States.

The incoming Trump administration needs a strategic approach to relations with Astana and the broader Central Asian region.

I was in the Kazakh capital October 15–18, attending a conference on the rise of middle powers and the implications for an international system in growing disarray. The

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