Central Asia

Background

Central Asia is a region of Asia that includes Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and most of Kazakhstan. It lies between the Caspian Sea to the southwest, European Russia to the northwest, China and Mongolia to the east, Afghanistan and Iran to the south, and Siberia to the north. The region is often referred to collectively as the “-stans,” reflecting the shared Persian suffix “-stan” in the names of its states.

The region matters in international affairs because it connects Russia, China, the Middle East, and South Asia, making it a significant crossroads for trade, transport, and diplomacy. Its countries remain linked to major regional economic and security issues, including energy, border management, migration, and transnational crime. In Russian foreign policy, Central Asia is especially important because of historical ties, continued political influence, and cooperation in multilateral settings, including drug control and broader regional security initiatives.

Historically, Central Asia was populated by Iranian-speaking peoples and later transformed by Turkic migration, which made Turkic languages dominant across much of the region. It also served as a key segment of the Silk Road, supporting the growth of commercial cities and the exchange of goods, ideas, and peoples between Europe and East Asia. From the mid-19th century to the late 20th century it was incorporated into the Russian Empire and then the Soviet Union, leaving a large population of Russian and other Slavic descendants, especially in Kazakhstan, and shaping the region’s modern political and demographic landscape.

Timeline

1. Mar 9, 2026

   Russia acted as a donor to UNODC youth anti-drug initiatives in Central Asia.

   Press Release: Participation of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia D.E. Lubinsky in a Side Event on Drug Use Prevention Among Youth at the 69th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs