Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Netanyahu: If Lebanese Army takes steps to disarm Hezbollah, Israel will engage in reciprocal measures, including phased reduction of Israeli military presence in Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Photojournalist Houssam Al-Masri martyred, reporters Hatem Omar, Mohammad Ashraf Salameh injured in Israeli strike on Nasser Medical Complex.
Israeli media: Intense US efforts are being made to resolve differences, such as the issue of the Israeli presence on Mount Hermon and in southern Syria
Israeli media: The security agreement means amending the disengagement agreement, which will also address the Druze issue
Israeli media: Attempts to reach a security agreement between 'Israel' and Syria were among the topics discussed at the Paris meeting
Israeli media: Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif rejected a US proposal to join the recent tripartite meeting between Tom Barrack, al-Shaibani, and Dermer
Saba News Agency: Two martyred, five injured in a preliminary toll of the Israeli aggression on the Yemeni Oil Company station on Al-Sitteen Street in Sanaa
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: We observed a state of confusion among the enemy's aircraft squadron after Yemeni air defenses intercepted the attack
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: The Yemeni air defense forces succeeded in neutralizing a squadron of enemy aircraft and prevented airstrikes on some governorates
Senior Yemeni military source to Al Mayadeen: Our air defenses and missile forces forced a formation of enemy aircraft to flee the airspace

A New Geopolitical Dawn in Central Asia

  • By Rasha Reslan
  • Source: Al Mayadeen
  • 4 Sep 2021 19:27
  • 4 Shares
6 Min Read

The heavy blow of the hasty US withdrawal is considered one of the utmost examples of failed American arrogance about its ability to impose its will abroad.

  • x
  • Afghanistan neighbors are soldiering all their Capabilities to fill the US crater
    Afghanistan neighbors are soldiering all their Capabilities to fill the US crater

The “humiliating” US withdrawal from Afghanistan has unleashed a wave of criticism towards US president Joe Biden. Local and international critics blame his administration not only for miscalculating the withdrawal and tarnishing US credibility around the world but also for paving the way for Afghanistan’s neighboring countries China, Russia, and Iran to strengthen their geopolitical stand in central Asia. The region is adapting vastly to the US’ strategic failure in Afghanistan.

No more US leverage

The US retreat in central Asia is nothing new, it goes back years ago. The last time US troops used bases in Central Asia -- beginning in 2001 and lasting until 2014 – it didn’t end so good.

In 2001, US troops were deployed to the Khanabad base in Uzbekistan, the Bishkek airport in Kyrgyzstan, and briefly to the airfield in Kulob, Tajikistan.

Almost immediately, the US deployment was a failure.

Domino effect

The current domino effect is simply a manifestation of a similar strategic failure which the US foreign policy has faced in Vietnam during Kennedy’s administration. 

The Presence of US troops and their allies at Central Asian bases has become a huge concern for these countries.

Simultaneously, the Uzbek government told the United States to remove its troops from the Khanabad base.

During a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in early July 2005, SCO members China and Russia backed Uzbekistan’s stance, drafting a final statement for the US and its allies to withdraw from bases in SCO member countries.

The domino effect began to unfold as the US started to consecutively withdraw its troops from Central Asia. 

US troops were out of Uzbekistan before the end of 2005.

The US base at the Bishkek airport had been regularly criticized by various Kyrgyz politicians until it was eventually evacuated in 2014.

So the Central Asian countries concluded that cooperating with the United States and its Western allies could detach them from their geopolitical sheath.

In a nutshell, the US left central Asia nearly a decade later, after Russia and China influenced countries in the region to reduce their military collaboration with Washington.

Filling the US vacuum 

Currently, Central Asian governments and their neighbors (China, Russia, and Iran) are engaging with the Taliban in the hope of mediating a peace deal, and eyeing to reinforce stability within Central Asia.

Related News

A walk to school under Israeli occupation

Lives scarred by cluster bombs: Untold stories of tragedy, resilience

  • Almost 50 percent of children under 5 are malnourished
    Almost 50 percent of children under 5 are malnourished as a result of the US war on Afghanistan

China: “Friendly and cooperative” ties 

China, which shares a 76-kilometer (47-mile) border with Afghanistan, has said it seeks “friendly and cooperative” relations with the Taliban, as analysts stress that a stable and cooperative Kabul administration could pave the way for China to offer economic support and investment for Afghanistan's reconstruction.

Meanwhile, a top-level Taliban delegation has recently met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Tianjin, promising that Afghanistan would not be used as a base for militants. On its account, China offered economic support and investment for Afghanistan's reconstruction, strongly welcoming the chance to deepen ties with the country.

"The Taliban have repeatedly expressed their hope to develop good relations with China, and that they look forward to China's participation in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

In an address to the UN Security Council, a senior Chinese diplomat, Geng Shuang, said it was time to bring the Taliban into the international fold and hold US and other Western forces accountable for crimes in Afghanistan. 

Replying to a question of whether China will conduct cooperation with Afghanistan under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the near future, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin affirmed that China and Afghanistan are traditionally friendly neighbors. 

“We always follow a friendly policy towards the entire Afghan people. China has long supported peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan, provided much assistance to its socio-economic development, and played a positive role in its endeavor to realize self-reliant growth and improve livelihood,” he added.

The top Chinese diplomat went on to say that China-Afghanistan cooperation under the BRI framework has delivered tangible benefits to our two peoples, adding that the BRI can contribute to national and regional development and prosperity, and hopes to continue to support and participate in it.

Russia: A firm relationship

Russia's embassy stayed operational in Kabul after the US hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan.

President Vladimir Putin's special representative on Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, has lately said that the embassy was working to establish relations with Afghanistan's new Taliban rulers.

Russia was ready to help rebuild Afghanistan's economy, he said, urging Western nations not to freeze the Afghan government's financial assets.

On Aug. 23,  Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow came to the fore within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

"We're in close contact with CSTO members over Afghanistan ... That's why our interaction within CSTO should be strengthened," Shoigu stressed.

On its account, the CSTO has lately confirmed it would hold military exercises in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan from September to October following the situation in Afghanistan.

"We are establishing ties (with Taliban officials), our embassy in Kabul is working quite actively on this," he told Russian state television. "We have had such contacts for a long time and we will work further on them."

Iran: A new chapter  

A Taliban delegation visited Tehran in late January and had been received by senior Iranian officials. Iran and Afghanistan- sharing deep cultural ties and a 945km (587 miles) border- has reportedly discussed “relations between both countries, the situation of the Afghan migrants in Iran, and the current political and security situation of Afghanistan and the region.”

On his account, Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry confirmed that Tehran has put into consideration the Afghan government’s perspective. The official Afghan statement went on to say, “Iran wants to make sure that a post-conflict Afghanistan will remain a center of regional and international cooperation.”

Honored to be host of cordial & substantive dialog between senior Afghan reps.

As foreign forces leave Afghanistan, no impediment remains for Afghans of all political stripes to chart a peaceful & prosperous future for the next generation.

Iran stands with our Afghan brethren. pic.twitter.com/nABlJfdXaP

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) July 7, 2021

On July 8, 2021, an Afghan government delegation has met Taliban representatives in Tehran, the Iranian foreign ministry says.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid affirmed Stanikzai’s visit to Iran aimed at “discussing issues of mutual interest”.

In a landlocked country, it looks like the US has pulled its last string in Afghanistan after twenty years of war which did cost, 46,000 Afghan victims and USD2.3 trillion losses.

  • The US spent 300 million dollars per day in its war on Afghanistan
    The US spent 300 million dollars per day in its war on Afghanistan

What lies on the near horizon is firmly in the hands of the Asian countries in question. Their efforts now are focusing on filling the void left by the US by building instead of disrupting.

  • Afghanistan
  • Central Asia
  • US
  • US withdrawal From Afghanistan
  • China
  • Iran
  • Russia
  • Taliban
  • US failure
  • world politics

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)

Hamas, other factions accept Egypt-Qatar ceasefire proposal: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 18 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS