Session IV: U.S. Strategic Partnership and Cooperation in Central Asia and the Caucasus

The Fourth Panel of the Rethink Institute’s Energy, Trade and Development Forum focused primarily on the improvement of U.S-Central Asian relationships and the promotion of the importance to establish partnerships domestically and internationally.
Serving as moderator for the fourth panel was Dr. Andrew Kuchins, Director and Senior Fellow of the CSIS Russia and Eurasia Program. Panelists included Ambassador John E. Herbst, Director of the Center for Complex Operation at the National Defense University; Ambassador Richard Swett, Co-Founder and CEO of Climate Prosperity Enterprise Solutions; Bryan Lopp, Director of International Operations & Policy at Boeing; and Dinara Koshalova filling in for Serik Nugerbekov, Senator of Republic of Kazakhstan and Co-Chairman of Eurasian Economic Science.
Central Asia is a region that is becoming increasingly connected after centuries of disconnect. As such, the panelists stressed the influence that partnerships within the region as well as beyond can be instrumental in the region’s economic development. Through stability, these key partnerships can foster the progress needed to continue its success into the future. Panelist Bryan Lopp brought forth Boeing’s current and future initiatives in Central Asia, which provide transit connectivity and economic prosperity in the United States and abroad. By furthering development from the bottom up, panelist Richard Swett emphasized that the U.S should serve as a facilitator in the region to enhance infrastructure and diplomatic relationships, and to nurture economic opportunities. Panelist John E. Herbst echoed the themes brought up by previous panelists, while also presenting his concerns of security, sovereignty, and U.S foreign policy in the region. Lastly, Panelist Dinara Koshalova presented a brief video on Kazakhstan’s role in the region and its hosting of the annual Astana Economic Forum. Ms. Koshalova also discussed the strategic energy partnership between the United States and Kazakhstan through bilateral agreements and collaborations. Ms. Koshalova also emphasized that Kazakhstan is one of the leading countries in the region and is working very hard to enter into the global arena of economic and energy strategic partnership.
Source: Turkic American Convention