The Chintan Research Foundation (CRF) on Thursday, 3 September hosted a special lecture by Joseph Epstein, Director of the Turan Research Center in the United States, examining 'The New Great Game in Central Asia' — with a sharp focus on India's strategic positioning in the region alongside major powers including China, Russia, the United States, the European Union (EU), and Turkey. The event came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded visits to Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic, including his attendance at the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek.

Why the Timing Matters

Ayushi Saini, Research Consultant for Central Asia at CRF, described the event's timing as 'very crucial', noting that discussions centred on how India navigates regional connectivity and the role of multilateral frameworks such as the SCO. 'We discussed how to navigate regional connectivity, the important role of organisations like the SCO, and where India fits amidst the interests of these major actors,' she said.

Saini added that the lecture explored India's historical ties with the region, evolving current dynamics, and New Delhi's deepening interest in the five Central Asian republics — Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

How Central Asia Views Itself in the New Geopolitics

Dr Chhavi Vasisht, Associate Fellow at CRF, offered historical context, drawing a contrast between 19th-century power dynamics and today's more assertive Central Asian posture. 'In the past, if we talk about the 19th century, Russia and the UK were major powers that ruled or used the resources in Central Asia. But today, there are other major powers present,' she said.

'Central Asian countries no longer say, “Come and take our resources”. That era of old-style colonialism is gone. In this new paradigm and new geopolitics, these countries are independently making decisions, independently pursuing their foreign policies, and navigating the new great power dynamics,' Vasisht noted.

India's Foreign Policy Goals in Focus

Vasisht said the lecture largely examined how Central Asian nations are responding to great-power competition and how those powers, in turn, are engaging with the region. Following Modi's recent visit, the event also sought to address the broader question of what India's foreign policy goals and ambitions are within the shifting great-power landscape in Central Asia.

India and the SCO Framework

India's engagement with Central Asia has gained momentum through multilateral platforms, particularly the SCO, where New Delhi has sought to balance relationships with both Russia and China. Analysts note that India's connectivity ambitions, including the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), give it a distinct economic stake in the region. As great-power competition in Central Asia intensifies, India's ability to articulate and operationalise a coherent regional strategy will be closely watched.