US, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan to form new quad grouping
WASHINGTON: The US, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan have agreed in principle to establish a new quadrilateral diplomatic platform focused on enhancing regional connectivity, the Biden administration has said. “The parties consider long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan critical to regional connectivity and agree that peace and regional connectivity are mutually reinforcing,” the state department said on Friday.
Recognising the historic opportunity to open flourishing interregional trade routes, the parties intend to cooperate to expand trade, build transit links, and strengthen business-to-business ties, it said. “The parties agreed to meet in the coming months to determine the modalities of this cooperation with mutual consensus,” said the state department. Afghanistan’s strategic location has for a long time been touted as a competitive advantage for the US.
Afghanistan is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north, and China to the northeast. Located at the heart of the historic Silk Road, Afghanistan was long the crossroads of commerce between Asian countries connecting them to Europe, and enhancing religious, cultural, and commercial contacts. The formation of the new quad group is important amid China’s desire to extend its Belt and Road Initiative to Afghanistan. By virtue of its location, Afghanistan can provide China with a strategic base to spread its influence across the world.
Recognising the historic opportunity to open flourishing interregional trade routes, the parties intend to cooperate to expand trade, build transit links, and strengthen business-to-business ties, it said. “The parties agreed to meet in the coming months to determine the modalities of this cooperation with mutual consensus,” said the state department. Afghanistan’s strategic location has for a long time been touted as a competitive advantage for the US.
Afghanistan is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to the north, and China to the northeast. Located at the heart of the historic Silk Road, Afghanistan was long the crossroads of commerce between Asian countries connecting them to Europe, and enhancing religious, cultural, and commercial contacts. The formation of the new quad group is important amid China’s desire to extend its Belt and Road Initiative to Afghanistan. By virtue of its location, Afghanistan can provide China with a strategic base to spread its influence across the world.
동현 배(Dong-hyun Bae)는 UlsanFocus.com의 필진으로, 지역 및 국내 주요 뉴스는 물론 정치, 경제, 기술, 스포츠, 문화·연예, 라이프스타일 등 다양한 분야를 다루고 있습니다. 독자들이 이해하기 쉬운 명확한 보도와 신뢰할 수 있는 정보 전달을 중요하게 생각하며, 시의성 있는 이슈와 일상에 도움이 되는 소식을 균형 있게 전합니다. 독자와 지역사회를 연결하는 의미 있는 이야기를 꾸준히 전달하는 데 집중하고 있습니다.