A New US Approach to the Caspian Region?

About this episode

Dr Eric Rudenshiold joins Neil Melvin to discuss the changing dynamics in the Caspian region and the implications of the US's renewed engagement.

Dr Eric Rudenshiold joins Neil Melvin to examine regional change, great-power competition and Washington's renewed engagement within the Caspian region. The Caspian region is being reshaped by new political and economic dynamics as Central Asia and the South Caucasus deepen regional cooperation and navigate the competing ambitions of Russia, China and a newly engaged US. President Trump's first presidential-level C5+1 summit marks a notable shift in Washington's approach to a region long viewed as peripheral. In this episode of Global Security Briefing, Neil Melvin is joined by Dr Eric Rudenshiold, Research Director at the Caspian Policy Center and former NSC Director for Central Asia, to assess how regional actors are adapting to changing power balances and what Washington's renewed focus could mean for future stability and connectivity. The discussion explores: Emerging geopolitical and economic trends across the Caspian Russia's and China's evolving roles and competing integration projects Growing regional cooperation and expanding Caspian links The impact of US re-engagement and whether it signals a lasting shift

People in this episode

Host: Neil Melvin

Guest: Dr Eric Rudenshiold

Topics covered

• Caspian region
• great-power competition
• US foreign policy
• regional cooperation
• geopolitical dynamics
• economic trends

Keywords

• Caspian region
• US foreign policy
• great-power competition
• regional cooperation
• Russia
• China
• C5+1 summit
• geopolitical trends

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Caspian Policy Center, NSC, Russia, China

Places: United States, Caspian region, Central Asia, South Caucasus

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