REGIONAL SECURITY COMPLEX IN CENTRAL ASIA AFTER THE TALIBAN TAKEOVER IN AFGHANISTAN, 2021.

Central Asia (CA) faces an important stage of its development. Over 30 years have passed since the independence of the Central Asian states. The election of Shavkat Mirziyoyev as the President of Uzbekistan in 2016 became a focal point in the contemporary situation in the region and contributed to the intensification of Uzbekistan's foreign policy. The latter has demonstrated increasing cooperation with neighbouring countries, strengthening trade and economic relations, as well as seeking compromise solutions on the most pressing issues in Central Asia, including borders and water usage. Such position of Uzbekistan which keeps a special role in the region due to its strategic location, economic and demographic potential, rich history and culture has marked a trend towards the growth of regional cooperation in CA. Resorting to systematic and comparative methods of analysis, and to the regional security complex (RSC) theory of Barry Buzan and Ole Waever, we put forward the argument of the formation of a new independent RSC in Central Asia, for the last 30 years after the acquisition of sovereignty by the five regional countries. At the same time, by looking at Afghanistan through the lens of an 'insulator', we identify a country that has a significant impact on the security processes in the region and participates in the RSC of CA. The paper investigates how the Taliban return to power in Afghanistan could impact regional rapprochement in CA and its plans to enhance connectivity with South Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]