Is Central Asia and the Caucasus the Indo-Pacific’s next stop?

America to the rescue. In a twist of irony, that may be Central Asia's only alternative, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine upsetting the region's security apple cart.

The question is whether the United States, already rejiggering its commitment to security in the Middle East, has the will and wherewithal to engage.

Depending on one’s analysis of the Middle East’s strategic importance, the glass is either half full or half empty.