Astana on the Atlantic: Transatlantic Strategy in Central Asia and the OSCE

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The new report of the Eurasia Task Force [2], “Astana on the Atlantic: Transatlantic Strategy in Central Asia and the OSCE," offers recommendations to the Obama Administration on the eve of the OSCE Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, in order to reposition the U.S. in Central Asia and build an enduring OSCE presence in the region. The report's authors propose how the organization can enhance transparency and conflict resolution mechanisms in Eurasia and throughout the 56 member-states of the OSCE. In the report's view, Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the OSCE should augur the beginning of a shift in resources and attention within the organization from the Balkans to Eurasia. The report also provides a blueprint for a transatlantic strategy that engages Central Asia in a balanced, sustained way and advances issues of common interest to the region without abandoning important principles of U.S. diplomacy.

The report is chaired by Atlantic Council Chairman Senator Chuck Hagel [3], and co-authored by Damon Wilson [4], Vice President and Director, International Security Program, and Ross Wilson [5], Director, Patriciu Eurasia Center. It was formally released at the launch event on November 22 [6].

About the Eurasia Task Force:

‘Eurasia as Part of Transatlantic Security’ is a joint effort of the International Security Program [7] and Patriciu Eurasia Center [8] which seeks to shape the transatlantic debate on security in Eurasia and the future of the OSCE by publishing policy-relevant issue briefs, organizing strategy sessions with senior officials and issuing a task force report. In the context of Kazakhstan’s current chairmanship-in-office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the project intends to develop proposals for modernizing the OSCE to ensure it becomes a key institution linking Central Asia to the transatlantic community.

Chaired by Atlantic Council Chairman Senator Chuck Hagel [3], who as a U.S. Senator visited all five Central Asian republics, the project draws on experts from the Atlantic Council network with deep experience in Eurasia, transatlantic security and OSCE matters. To inform the task force’s policy recommendations, Atlantic Council President and CEO Fred Kempe [9] led a delegation consisting of Ambassador Ross Wilson [10], Damon Wilson [11], Boyko Nitzov [12] and Jeff Lightfoot [13] to Vienna, Austria, Astana, Kazakhstan and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan in Jun 2010 to meet with government representatives, OSCE officials and members of civil society.

This project is supported by a grant from the Government of Kazakhstan, with additional support through the Strategic Advisors Group from EADS-North America and The Scowcroft Group, as well as Dinu Patriciu and other supporters of the Patriciu Eurasia Center.

Related Eurasia Task Force Documents:

• Triple Crown 2010: Can the Transatlantic Alliance be Strategic? [14]
• Uncertain Kyrgyzstan: Rebalancing U.S. Policy [15]
• Deciding on an OSCE Summit [16]