Updating US Trade Policy: A Discussion on the Strategic and Economic Importance of Central Asia with Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA)

Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine underscored a hard strategic truth for policymakers in Washington and Europe: economic interdependence does not replace geopolitics. Energy flows, trade relationships, and supply chains are powerful tools of coercion deployed freely by revisionist and authoritarian powers in pursuit of their own interests and often at the expense of US national security. As instability reshapes the Middle East, Indo-Pacific, and beyond, the United States and its allies face growing pressure to reduce economic dependencies on adversaries and shore up supply chains. 

Central Asia is at the heart of this challenge. Deeper US involvement there can offset China's global economic influence, undermine Russia's energy leverage over Europe, and expand access to more sources of vital defense inputs like critical minerals.

Please Join Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Senior Fellow Michael Doran for a discussion on Central Asia’s economic and strategic significance and why updating US trade policy is key to unlocking the region’s potential in an era of renewed great power competition. 

To request an RSVP, please reach out to Natalie Arbatman at narbatman@hudson.org.