Contesting Russia requires renewed US engagement in Central Asia
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By James M. Dorsey When US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III declared that Washington wanted to see Russia so “weakened" that it would no longer be able to invade a neighbouring state, he lifted the veil on US goals in Ukraine. He also held out the prospect of a long-term US-Russian contest for power and influence. Mr. Austin's remarks were problematic on several fronts. For one, they legitimised Russian President Vladimir Putin's justification of the invasion of Ukraine as a defence against US-led efforts to box Russia in and potentially undermine his regime. “US policy toward Russia continues to be plagued by lack of rhetorical discipline . First calling for regime change, now goal of weakening Russia. This only increases Putin’s case for escalating & shifts focus away from Russian actions in Ukraine & toward Russia-US/NATO showdown,” tweeted New York-based Council of Foreign Relations president and former senior State Department official Richard Haas