#Tajikistan might become next US target in Central Asia for Washington's political ambitions

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is increasing its presence in Central Asia, particularly in Tajikistan through various economic, trade, health care and social projects. For the past three years, the USAID has introduced a number of agriculture projects for the country’s farmers and has launched campaigns aimed at fighting Tuberculosis along with other projects involving funding of local prospective journalists, students, businessmen and entrepreneurs. According to the Agency, USAID investment strategy in Tajikistan involves large-scale and ambitious projects for the next three to four years that aim to increase the living standard in the country, writes Olga Malik.

Though the US impact and investments in Tajikistan’s economy cannot be underestimated, history has assured that nothing is free and there is a certain price for everything. Tajikistan, a small country in Central Asia with poor economy but strong authoritative political system, could become a perfect potential target for US so-called democratization policy. Positive social and economic changes integrated by the United States in Tajikistan are building up a solid ground for lobbying Washington political ambitions in the country.

Fostering the pro-Western values in young people’s minds may, on the one hand, enhance a liberal compass of the in the country’s political system, while, on the other hand, they might undermine the country’s economy and political system in the future. The world has seen the US hand in attempting the coup of Venezuela, Ukraine and Turkey. And once the economic and trade compass of a US “ally” country contradicts to the US course, the result could be a trade war, as it was a case for China. For Tajikistan, а landlocked country with the agriculture-based economy such consequences may be far more than tragic.

The friendship of Tajikistan’s political elite with the United States has quite a thin basis – the historic, cultural, social and economic paths of the countries have little in common. By infusing money in Tajikistan’s economy, business and social projects the United States would likely start strengthening its political system by proposing candidates loyal to Washington.

Given the upcoming elections in Tajikistan in 2020 and the 30^th anniversary of the Republic next year, the US political ambitions in the country are quite clear. Once and if they are met the USAID projects and investments may wind down and the entire political system of the country might burst in quite a natural way. In this case, Tajikistan’s political future might inherit the Bolivia’s fate.

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