Antony Blinken on the Future of Central Asia
The Lawfare Podcast
The Lawfare Institute
4.7 • 6.4K Ratings
🗓️ 17 April 2015
⏱️ 65 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
A few weeks ago, Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Brookings for a public address on the current priorities and future prospects for U.S. engagement in Central Asia. With the draw-down in Afghanistan on the horizon, Mr. Blinken makes clear that the United States is not relinquishing its interests in the region. Blinken stresses that the security of the United States is enhanced by a more secure Central Asia, and a stable Central Asia is most likely if the nations there are sovereign and independent countries, connected with one another, and fully capable of defending their own borders. He concludes that investing in connectivity can spur commerce from Istanbul to Shanghai while serving as a stabilizing force for Afghanistan's transition.
Senior Fellow Fiona Hill introduced Mr. Blinken, and Brookings President Strobe Talbot moderated the conversation.
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| 0:25.6 | no bull and the aftermath. |
| 0:34.3 | On the other hand, Russia's actions on its periphery, including its violation of the |
| 0:39.3 | territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, threaten the very foundation of international |
| 0:44.3 | order, not only in the region, not only in Europe, but beyond and around the world. |
| 0:50.7 | As Russia and the separatists that it backs continue to destabilize eastern Ukraine, they're |
| 0:54.9 | doing more than violating the borders of one country. |
| 0:57.7 | They are threatening the fundamental principles that we all have a stake in defending, in Europe |
| 1:02.6 | and indeed around the world. |
| 1:04.6 | The principle that borders and territorial integrity of a democratic state cannot be changed |
| 1:10.1 | by force. |
| 1:11.7 | That it is the inherent right of citizens in a democracy to make their own decisions about |
| 1:16.6 | their country's future. |
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| 1:24.4 | cannot be allowed to be resurrected. |
| 1:27.8 | I'm Cody Poplin and this is the lawfair podcast April 18th, 2015. |
| 1:34.5 | That was Deputy Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken you just heard. |
| 1:38.0 | A few weeks ago at Brookings Blinken gave a keynote address on the United States' interest |
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