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importance. Some experts hail the project as a trump card for China under the administration of Trump. Following Trump’s order to withdraw from the Trans- Pacific Treaty,
China is working to speed up the implementation of this project. In a way, China intends
to move toward directing the world economic scene (Nordin and Weissmann 2018:235).
The New Silk Road project is not just an economic project. Through this project,
China aims to expand its political influence and military power over a large part of
the region. Hence, it is obvious that Japan and even India are dissatisfied with the
increase of its political influence in the region. Australia, which is witnessing largescale Chinese investments in the country, is also concerned about a further increase
in Chinese influence. In contrast, Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan are among the countries
that have welcomed the project. China has gradually increased its political and military influence by investing heavily in the region. The implementation of the New
Silk Road project could play an important role in expanding China’s political influence and economic power (https://p.dw.com/p/3dqLJ 2018). In Central Asia, which
is the starting point of the project outside China and where a lot of investments have
been made, differences between countries, Russian intervention, and their concern
about China dominating their economies are all serious obstacles to advancing the
Silk Road. In this regard, the “One Belt One Road” document was launched by the
Chinese State Council in 2015, which outlines the vision and measures for the joint
construction of the “Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk
Road.” In short, the plan has two routes, namely land, and sea, and in both routes,
the countries are to be connected to each other through three means: (1) Coordination
in policymaking (2) Trade facilitation and liberalization (3) Establishment of infrastructure or connection of the infrastructure of the countries present on the Silk
Road (through the construction of railways on land and ports on the sea route). As
the country is at the top of the chain, more value is added to Chinese companies and
ultimately the economy (donya- e- eqtesad.com 2018).
Why the Trump Administration’s Central Asia Strategy Improves
Over Its Predecessors?
There is room for improvement in the US Central Asia policy, but the Trump administration is steering things on the right track. In 2005, a call was made for the foundation of a US “Partnership for Central Asia.” Moreover, the Diplomat and many
others credited the book titled “The New Silk Roads: Transport and Trade in Greater
Central Asia,” published in 2007, as it had played a significant role in influencing
the Hillary Clinton Administration to establish the “New Silk Road” strategy.
Another call was published in the year 2014 for a “Central Asia Six Plus One”
entity. The only difference it had from John Kerry’s C5+1 was that Afghanistan was
not included in the mechanism in C5+1. As it is evident that Central Asia has not
been able to develop meaningful democracy since the disintegration of the Soviet
Union 30 years ago, whether the USA should collaborate with Central Asia is a matter of question (thediplomat.com 2020a, b). While Kerry excluded Afghanistan
from C5+1, the US invested in Afghanistan in terms of human resources and trea6 Trump Energy Diplomacy
importance. Some experts hail the project as a trump card for China under the administration of Trump. Following Trump’s order to withdraw from the Trans- Pacific Treaty,
China is working to speed up the implementation of this project. In a way, China intends
to move toward directing the world economic scene (Nordin and Weissmann 2018:235).
The New Silk Road project is not just an economic project. Through this project,
China aims to expand its political influence and military power over a large part of
the region. Hence, it is obvious that Japan and even India are dissatisfied with the
increase of its political influence in the region. Australia, which is witnessing largescale Chinese investments in the country, is also concerned about a further increase
in Chinese influence. In contrast, Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan are among the countries
that have welcomed the project. China has gradually increased its political and military influence by investing heavily in the region. The implementation of the New
Silk Road project could play an important role in expanding China’s political influence and economic power (https://p.dw.com/p/3dqLJ 2018). In Central Asia, which
is the starting point of the project outside China and where a lot of investments have
been made, differences between countries, Russian intervention, and their concern
about China dominating their economies are all serious obstacles to advancing the
Silk Road. In this regard, the “One Belt One Road” document was launched by the
Chinese State Council in 2015, which outlines the vision and measures for the joint
construction of the “Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk
Road.” In short, the plan has two routes, namely land, and sea, and in both routes,
the countries are to be connected to each other through three means: (1) Coordination
in policymaking (2) Trade facilitation and liberalization (3) Establishment of infrastructure or connection of the infrastructure of the countries present on the Silk
Road (through the construction of railways on land and ports on the sea route). As
the country is at the top of the chain, more value is added to Chinese companies and
ultimately the economy (donya- e- eqtesad.com 2018).
Why the Trump Administration’s Central Asia Strategy Improves
Over Its Predecessors?
There is room for improvement in the US Central Asia policy, but the Trump administration is steering things on the right track. In 2005, a call was made for the foundation of a US “Partnership for Central Asia.” Moreover, the Diplomat and many
others credited the book titled “The New Silk Roads: Transport and Trade in Greater
Central Asia,” published in 2007, as it had played a significant role in influencing
the Hillary Clinton Administration to establish the “New Silk Road” strategy.
Another call was published in the year 2014 for a “Central Asia Six Plus One”
entity. The only difference it had from John Kerry’s C5+1 was that Afghanistan was
not included in the mechanism in C5+1. As it is evident that Central Asia has not
been able to develop meaningful democracy since the disintegration of the Soviet
Union 30 years ago, whether the USA should collaborate with Central Asia is a matter of question (thediplomat.com 2020a, b). While Kerry excluded Afghanistan
from C5+1, the US invested in Afghanistan in terms of human resources and trea6 Trump Energy Diplomacy