Turan Research Center

For millennia, whoever controlled the Silk Road controlled the wealth and influence of Central Asia. Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Tamerlane were among the great figures who left an indelible mark on the region. Today, the Silk Road’s legacy presents a different kind of opportunity—one of diplomacy. President Donald Trump can become the first United States president to visit Central Asia, demonstrating that America is prepared to play a significant role in the region for the first time since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Once overlooked, Central Asia is now commanding attention. Its vast mineral wealth and strategic location make it a critical arena for US interests. As leaders from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan gather in Washington, DC, for the C5+1 summit, a presidential visit to the region would signal that the United States is committed to being a central player in its economic and geopolitical future.

Read the full article on The National Interest.

Joseph Epstein is the Director of the Turan Research Center and a Senior Fellow at the Yorktown Institute.