Russia

Moscow’s needs are more immediate, giving Tashkent time and space to negotiate. 

The cost of electronics and household appliances in Russia may increase by 10-12 percent due to new restrictions at the Kazakh border.

It is difficult to disentangle the political choices made by Central Asian leaders to attend Moscow’s parade this year from the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Despite Russia upping the ante on the gas trade, Uzbekistan still has some cards that it can play. 

India may have its own relations with Russia, but Moscow and Beijing’s closeness is a growing problem for New Delhi.

A U.S. blockade of Russian maritime crude oil exports to China is feasible, but would be extremely unwise outside of wartime or near-wartime conditions. 

China's imports from Russia, mostly oil and gas, surged 31.3 percent over a year ago in January and February to $18.6 billion.

Despite the visit, what Russia and China will be willing to do for each other beyond diplomatic comfort remains to be seen.

China and Russia are not in lockstep across the board, but they are clearly in strategic alignment at a global level.

Uzbek migrant workers in Russia, and those serving time in Russian prisons, are particularly vulnerable to recruitment into the Russian military.

Central Asia might actually be interested in Russian gas, but please don’t call it a “union.”