Our organisation wants to celebrate the last year of activities with our friends, partners, sponsors, and followers with the hope of beginning the next year with the same commitment. Although 2020 was an uncommon year because of the pandemic, ASRIE Analytica has improved its activities and projects and affirmed its presence in Italy and abroad.
Afghanistan is a strategic country in Eurasia, a land where superpowers (British Empire, Soviet Union, the United States) had known their limits trying to control the local population and include it in their geopolitical strategy. Therefore, we decide to discuss current dynamics and future developments of Afghanistan with Jill Suzanne Kornetsky, a Kabul-based consultant, researcher, analyst and social entrepreneur.
ASRIE Analytica launched its new website which reflects our personal geopolitical model and daily work. We believe in our concept of geopolitics and security, therefore we developed our personal working model which we considered the most necessary step to support public institutions and private companies in understanding current phenomena and future trends.
The White House is expanding trade partnership and investments in Kazakhstan according to the new US Strategy in Central Asia which aspires to improve independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in the so-called Stan Countries and strengthen Washington's presence in one of the most strategic regions in the world.
China has risen as the winner in the management of Covid-19 crisis. Beijing has been capable of exploiting the virus for its international geopolitical purposes meanwhile the West has proved the incapacity to face a pandemic which threatens society, economy, and democracy.
After over 10 hours the foreign affairs ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia supervised by Russia agreed on the cease-fire which should precede the peace negotiation between Baku and Yerevan on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are claiming their ‘victory’ in the conflict, even though in Nagorno-Karabakh the real winner is the Russian Federation.
The Central Asian republic of Kyrgyzstan is experiencing a deep political crisis after the recent parliamentary elections. The country lacks clear leadership, the government forbade several people to leave the country, and the Kremlin had described the situation of the former Soviet republic as 'messy and chaotic'.
The Russian ambassador in Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, confirmed the Kremlin's interests in improving its diplomatic and commercial relations with Kabul and supporting the national peace process without any forms of foreign interference. Zhirnov's words underlined the Russian desire to play a strategic role in Afghanistan and counter the United States and Chinese presence.
The Caucasus might become the theatre of a new conflict whose consequences will impact the entire Eurasian region if the international community will not stop the military escalation at the borders of the de-facto Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan.
Turkey continues its technical military partnership with the Russian Federation because of Ankara's will of upgrading its defence system and capabilities and make the country less dependent from NATO. The second Turkish purchase of the Russian S-400 might change the balance inside the North Atlantic Alliance and make Moscow and Ankara closer in the international arena.
Russia plans to develop the infrastructure of the port of Makhachkala to transform the Dagestani capital in a logistic hub in the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus region and boost the socio-economic development. Moscow's desire to upgrade Makhachkala's seaport and airport challenges the city of Baku and the Azerbaijani aim to become the Caspian interconnection.
Iran and Russia are strengthening their bilateral cooperation in the field of scientific research focusing their attention on the Caspian Sea because the region plays a strategic role in the international arena and energy market. Furthermore, Tehran is becoming more involved in Russian domestic markets as demonstrated by the recent cooperation agreement between Iranian and North Caucasian academic institutions.
Qatar expressed interest in implementing major projects in the Republic of Turkmenistan. The Arab country aims at playing a major role in Central Asia trying to boost its influence and political-economic presence in Turkmenistan, a post-Soviet republic well-known for its energetic resources.
The European Union has shown its inability to face the emergency of Covid-19 and supporting Italy. Due to the lack of EU support Italy is strengthening its relations and cooperation with China considering that Beijing is interested in enhancing the Memorandum of Understanding toward the Belt and Road Initiative signed last year with the previous Italian government.
The US – Taliban deal should be only interpreted as an agreement between Washington and a specific group of Taliban for the safe passage for the US troops withdrawal. The agreement was welcomed as a success in diplomacy although the war in the country cannot be considered over since in Afghanistan several factions of Taliban and different terrorist groups connected to external actors are operating.
