Greater Central Asia is at the center of a complex and interactive game between Russia, Turkey, and Iran. Each country is in the midst of adjusting its strategy in the region as part of a search for influence and power. In turn, the actions taken by each country has impact on the others and the way the US and China interact with the region. These actions occasionally buffet or contradict each other, making the overall diplomatic game hard to predict. Understanding these dynamics is essential in order to avoid misperceptions and instability in Greater Central Asia. This event highlights the importance of Greater Central Asia in global politics and analyzes regional economic and peace outcomes as a result of interactive moves by key regional players.
About the Speakers:
Omar Samad is currently CEO of Silkroad Consulting LLC, based in Virginia while also teaching an Honors Seminar on “Radicalism Within Islam, Drivers and Policy Options” at the University of Maryland. Amb. Samad resigned as Afghan Ambassador-designate to Belgium, the EU and NATO in April 2016 before taking up his post. Prior, from December 2014 to January 2016, he worked as Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy to the Chief Executive of Afghanistan in Kabul. He earned a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Fletcher School (2006), and has a B.A. in Communications from the American University in Washington, DC (1991).
John Sloan served as Canada’s ambassador to the Russian Federation, Armenia and Uzbekistan from August 2010 to September 2013. Highlights during his time in Russia included celebrating the 70th Anniversary of Canada-Russia diplomatic relations in 2012, the Canada-Russian Intergovernmental Economic Commissions in Ottawa in 2011 and Moscow 2013, the APEC Summit in Vladivostok in 2012 and the G20 Summit and opening of the Canadian-designed Mariinsky II Theatre in St. Petersburg in 2013. He retired from the Foreign Service in October 2013.
