Hao Nan Editor’s note: This is the truncated version of an analysis by Hao Nan. It was originally published by the think tank Valdai Club. The complete text of the analysis is available at this link --- https://valdaiclub.com/a/highlights/central-asia-2026-from-great-power-prize/ --- Ed. In 2025, Central Asia began to look less like a blank space on someone else’s … [Read more...]
The Tragic Legacy of Andreas Papandreou: Good Intentions and the Perils of Economic Overreach
Tariq Saeedi Andreas Papandreou, the charismatic socialist leader who twice served as Greece's Prime Minister in the 1980s and 1990s, once declared that he did not want to turn his country into a "nation of waiters." It was a bold vision, born from a deep-seated desire to elevate Greece beyond the sun-soaked beaches and tavernas that drew tourists in droves. The story of … [Read more...]
Central Asia’s Strategic Pivot: Navigating Between Giants While Building From Within
Tariq Saeedi The five republics of Central Asia—Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan—are experiencing a quiet but significant transformation. Three decades after independence, these countries are no longer merely buffer states caught between larger powers. They're actively crafting foreign policies that maximize their autonomy while pursuing … [Read more...]
Artificial Intelligence and the New Diplomacy: Speed, Subtlety, and Strategic Advantage
Tariq Saeedi International relations have always been about information—gathering it, interpreting it, and acting on it before your counterpart does. For centuries, the advantage went to those with better intelligence networks, sharper analysts, and more experienced diplomats who could read the room and sense what wasn't being said. That fundamental calculus hasn't … [Read more...]
Bilateral Currency Swap Agreements and Local Currency Trade Settlements
nCa Report The practice of countries engaging in mutual trade and settlements using their own local currencies, often facilitated by bilateral currency swap agreements (BSAs), has gained momentum as part of broader dedollarization efforts. These arrangements allow nations to bypass third-party currencies like the US dollar or euro, reducing transaction costs, foreign … [Read more...]
nCa Special Reports – Report on Oil and Gas Sector of Turkmenistan in 2025 launched
(Approximate reading time for this post – less than one minutes) We have launched our report on the performance of the Oil and Gas Sector of Turkmenistan in 2025. This is sixth report in our growing portfolio of nCa Special Reports: The list of contents of these reports is available to interested parties. The first report: Turkmenistan 2025 – Trade Sector ----- is … [Read more...]
Turkmenistan State Budget Comparative Analysis (2022-2026)
Overview This analysis compares Turkmenistan's state budgets across five years (2022-2026), showing the growth trajectory of various budget categories. Table 1: Overall State Budget Summary Category20222023202420252026State Budget Total (million manat)85,619.295,117.7102,313.5123,798.1131,845.1State Budget Total (US$ billion)24.4627.1729.2335.3737.67Growth from … [Read more...]
Trump returns to White House – A quick look at his inaugural speech – some implications for Central Asia
Tariq Saeedi Donald John Trump was sworn-in as the 47th President of the United States on 20 January 2025. This is his second term in office. He served the first term 2017-2021. The non-consecutive second term in White House is always considered an impressive feat in the American politics. During his election night victory party, Trump declared that “America has given us an … [Read more...]
Is the US Dollar heading toward collapse? – Part One
Tariq Saeedi Is the US Dollar heading toward collapse? --- For some it is an ardent desire and for others it is a worrisome possibility. The fact is the greenback has lately been in troubled waters. However, as of now, its collapse is more of a theoretical inference. What happens to the dollar and what the dollar does to itself, is a matter where the analysts generally … [Read more...]
Bankruptcy of trucking giant Yellow Corp. and vital lessons for Central Asia
nCa Analysis The American trucking giant Yellow Corp. (previously known as YRC Worldwide) is declaring bankruptcy and it has sent shockwaves across the transportation industry and the e-commerce world. With its workforce of more than 30000, Yellow was the third largest small-freight company in the transportation sector in the USA, specializing in low-cost transportation of … [Read more...]