Publication

This paper analyzes the background to and results of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s 2015 visits to five Central-Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan. More specifically, the author discusses 1) the factors that prompted these visits; 2) the main topics discussed during the visits-combating terrorism, defense cooperation, as well as economic and energy ties; 3) how the Central Asian countries perceived the visits and Indian interest in the region; 4) how global and regional power changes, particularly those involving Russia and China, have had an impact on India’s foreign policy; and 5) India’s limitations when it comes to competing with other external powers operating in Central Asia.