While China and Russia mobilized dozens of countries in Bishkek to form a multipolar world order, Washington’s envoys were sharing the spotlight by meeting with several Central Asian presidents in the Kyrgyz capital this week.
The maneuvers showed that the United States is likely to maintain its outreach to the region and seek to weaken Beijing’s influence, but it would be “unrealistic” for Washington to force Central Asian countries to choose sides, according to a prominent Chinese analyst.
US Senator Steve Daines and Sergio Gore, the US special envoy for South and Central Asia, met with Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, and Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, separately in Bishkek on Monday.
The summit brought together the three Central Asian presidents along with other prominent leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
