Alessandro Giacone Tajikistan is often referred to as the “other roof of the world” (after Nepal), because 90% of its territory is covered by mountains. Its highest peak is Ismail Samani Peak (7,495 m), formerly known as Communism Peak. Unlike its neighbors, the country is rich in water resources thanks to the presence of around one thousand rivers. The Rogun Hydropower Plant, currently under construction in the Pamir region, will, at 335 meters, become the tallest dam in the world. Italian companies are involved in the project. The initiative is strongly opposed by Uzbekistan, which fears a reduction in water flows reaching its territory. ...

Giorgio Malfatti The broader context described above sometimes makes us forget that the Caspian Sea is by no means in good health. Several studies have shown that its water level could drop rapidly due to global warming: a decline of between nine and eighteen meters is expected by the end of this century. Temperatures are rising, water is evaporating, and precipitation is decreasing. A perfect mix for an uncertain future. ...

Giorgio Malfatti di Montetretto The war in Ukraine has highlighted the weaknesses of the former Soviet “-stan” countries of Central Asia, which, although already well known, have been exacerbated by the current international environment. The most significant challenge, and perhaps the most important one, is the lack of access to the open sea. All of these countries belong to the category of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), meaning that they have no direct access to maritime routes and are therefore disadvantaged in international trade. Economists estimate that countries in this situation lose around 20% of their development potential. ...

Giorgio Malfatti di Montetretto Despite the arbitrary definition of territorial borders drawn on a purely administrative basis during the Soviet era, there are no state claims capable of undermining regional stability, apart from the persistent dispute concerning the Fergana Valley. This area is politically divided between eastern Uzbekistan, western Kyrgyzstan, and northern Tajikistan, and represents a node of primary importance for the three countries involved. Roughly the size of the Po Valley, the Fergana Valley is rich in agricultural and water resources and is historically located along the main overland routes connecting China with the Caucasus, the Iranian plateau, and the Eurasian steppes. It was, not surprisingly, a key sector of the ancient Silk Road and a strategic center for all the empires that have succeeded one another in the region. ...