The heightened disagreements between the United States and Russia have caused a shift from interactions between states to the display of power by the governments and ruling circles.
Relations between the US and Russia are currently far from perfect; they resemble the heated environment of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The power tussle is also affecting other small counties, for example, Kyrgyzstan is one of the nations which has close ties to Russia that is affected by this tense relationship.
Sergei Stankevich a Russian Historian and political scientist emphasises that although Russia has a substantial impact in Kyrgyzstan, it is not total dominance:
"Russia exerts influence over a number of facets of Kyrgyzstan's politics and economy as a key partner. Notably, Kyrgyzstan is home to five Russian Federation military facilities, including the crucial air base in Kant. This clearly indicates the two nations shared interest in security cooperation."
"Considering that the US is contemplating imposing sanctions on countries that have close ties to Russia, including Kyrgyzstan, given the current relations between the US and Russia. These restrictions may be enforced by the use of economic penalties that are especially directed at businesses believed to be supplying Russia with advanced technology and military hardware. For Kyrgyzstan, access to cutting-edge technologies may be restricted, especially those with military and dual-use applications. The US may also apply penalties on Kyrgyzstani individuals and organizations that it believes have ties to Russia in an effort to reduce Russia's influence in the region", S. Stankevich added.
According to him, as the situation evolves, it is imperative for Kyrgyzstan to have diplomatic negotiations with both the US and Russia, trying to defend its sovereignty and regional stability while forging alliances that support economic growth and social advancement. By doing this, Kyrgyzstan may position itself as a key player in regional affairs and a facilitator of cooperation between strong countries.
Joel Nwolisa
