The British policy in Central Asia

Abstract

The article investigates the modern policy of Great Britain in Central Asia. In recent years, official London has increased its interest in Central Asia. The region is considered as an important direction of British foreign policy. The British course is implemented in the context of the policy of the collective West towards the Central Asian states. It is based on the weakening of Russia’s political, trade and economic relations with Central Asian countries and putting pressure on them to change their foreign policy course. It is important for London to reorient Central Asia’s political and economic ties with Moscow and Beijing toward the interests of the collective West. London’s involvement in Central Asia is determined by energy resources in the region, as well as long-term plans to gain access to deposits of rare earth metals. The article concludes that it is possible to make only а relative comparisons with the “Great Game” that unfolded between the Russian Empire and Great Britain in the middle of the 19th century in the Central Asian khanates. The geopolitical conditions have changed dramatically and, in addition, London follows the general policy of the West. Nevertheless, London’s goals in Central Asia have not changed — the struggle for resources and limiting the influence of Russia.