Donald Trump's Foreign Policy Priorities in Central Asia

The article is devoted to the US foreign policy in Central Asia, the priorities of which are determined by the Donald Trump administration. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Central Asia has been at the center of American foreign policy interests. The United States assisted the Central Asian republics in developing democratic institutions, building civil society, and protecting and promoting human rights. Against the background of the growing influence of Russia and China in the region, Central Asia began to acquire strategic importance for the USA administration. Since 2001 the United States has intensified its activities in Central Asia creating tools for its long-term presence in the region. With Trump's coming to power in the USA, many experts believe that Central Asia will remain without attention from the new American leadership. Such conclusions are based on the model of the American foreign policy that is typical for the Donald Trump administration. It is an isolationist foreign policy model which does not prevent the United States from strengthening its strategic positions in Central Asia. Whoever comes to power in the USA, the policy of playing a more active role in the region will remain as well as Washington's desire to restrain other powers in their desire to gain a foothold in the region. In recent years, the United States has been developing various projects to unite Afghanistan and the Central Asian states into a single space stimulating their common economic development. However, due to economic and sociocultural differences between Afghanistan and the Central Asian states, these projects do not have long-term prospects. The author concludes that the Donald Trump administration has adjusted its interests around two key issues that have been put at the forefront in the framework of cooperation between the United States and the Central Asian states. The emphasis is placed on the development of cooperation in the field of security and the strengthening of economy. Trump's meetings with the presidents of the Central Asian republics at the official levels show that the interests of the United States are clearly pragmatic. Criticism of the Central Asian states in violation of human rights and disregard for democratic ideals gave way to the development of economic and political relations between the United States and the countries of Central Asia. In Trump's presidency, the configuration of the main priorities of the US policy in Central Asia will include issues of regional stability and security, trade and economic relations, and the promotion of regional integration.

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