Turan Research Center

Many in Central Asia welcomed Turkey as a potential “big brother” following the Soviet implosion, Bruce Pannier, a Turan Research Center fellow and board member of the Washington-based Caspian Policy Center, told Amwaj.media. As a NATO member straddling Europe and Asia, Turkey’s identity was appealing to the fledgling Central Asian states. However, domestic economic challenges during the 1990s limited Turkey’s ability to meet regional expectations.

In contrast, Iran aligns with China and Russia in seeking to limit western influence in Central Asia. Tehran sees NATO member Turkey’s growing presence as a proxy for American power, stoking fears of geopolitical encroachment. The Donald Trump administration’s quest to draw Central Asian countries into the Abraham Accords have exacerbated such anxieties.

Ankara wants Central Asian states to be less dependent on Russia and China and more deeply tied to Turkey and Azerbaijan. “They want them to be independent actors insomuch as it strengthens their sovereignty and territorial integrity, so that they can work more effectively with the Turkish government in promoting Turkey’s interests in that region,” said Pannier.

Read the full article on Amwaj Media.

Bruce Pannier is a Research Fellow at the Turan Research Center.