Greater Central Asia is at the center of a complex and interactive game between Russia\, Turkey\, and Iran. Each coun try is in the midst of adjusting its strategy in the region as part of a se arch for influence and power. In turn\, the actions taken by each country h as impact on the others and the way the US and China interact with the regi on. These actions occasionally buffet or contradict each other\, making the overall diplomatic game hard to predict. Understanding these dynamics is e ssential in order to avoid misperceptions and instability in Greater Centra l Asia. This event highlights the importance of Greater Central Asia in glo bal politics and analyzes regional economic and peace outcomes as a result of interactive moves by key regional players.
Omar Samad is currently CEO of Silkroad Consulting LL C\, based in Virginia while also teaching an Honors Seminar on “Radicali sm Within Islam\, Drivers and Policy Options” at the University of Maryland . Amb. Samad resigned as Afghan Ambassador-designate to Belgium\, the EU an d 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 th e Chief Executive of Afghanistan in Kabul. He earned a Master’s degree in I nternational Relations from the Fletcher School (2006)\, and has a B.A. in Communications from the American University in Washington\, DC (1991).
< p>John Sloan served as Canada’s ambassador to the Russian Federation\, Armenia and Uzbekistan from August 2010 to September 2013. Hi ghlights during his time in Russia included celebrating the 70th Anniversary of Canada-Russia diplomatic relations in 2012\, the Canada-Rus sian Intergovernmental Economic Commissions in Ottawa in 2011 and Moscow 20 13\, 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. H e retired from the Foreign Service in October 2013.