A silver lining of America's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan is that it may cause friction between Russia and China. I really am a glass half full kind of man.
The ongoing withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan is transforming diplomatic and security dynamics in Central Asia, creating opportunities for Russia and China to enhance their engagement with increasingly anxious governments in the region. The resurgence of the Taliban that began in the spring—and their takeover of large swaths of Afghanistan’s territory, including at least eight regional capitals so far—is unnerving senior officials in Central Asia.
I've wondered if Russia is about to end their pointless hostility toward NATO to face China. Which includes securing Central Asia's lines of communication between European Russia and Russia's Far East:
I have to wonder if the latest 5-year extension is the timeline for Russia to stop the madness of needlessly making NATO more powerful.
If the Russians are serious about stopping that and instead blocking China, securing their Central Asian buffer zone is necessary. Here we go?...
Without a secure Central Asia, Russia's ability to project and sustain military power in the Far East is put at risk.
There are signs of Russian sanity on the issue. We'll see if these are just moments of clarity in an otherwise dangerous Russian fantasy world or if America is trying to bring Russia in from the cold.
The initial article says that the situation is pushing China to cooperate more with Russia. But can that last?
If China is more motivated to extend influence in Central Asia, Russia has more need to oppose China and so alienate China. Because Russia can't afford to lose influence there without risking lines of communication to Russia's Far East.
Interesting times.
