By Invitation

Wooing Central Asia, over Covid-19

Russia deployed vaccine diplomacy. China brought in not just vaccines, but equipment and medical aid. Who won?

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives for a meeting at the Kremlin on Feb 24, 2021. PHOTO: AFP
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

Trapped between China and Russia, Central Asia has always found itself stuck between empires.

In earlier times, it was conquerors from the region such as Tamerlane who built Eurasian empires, but increasingly the countries find themselves trying to thread a diplomatic needle between competing external powers.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.