Thirty years ago, the Soviet Socialist Republics became independent nations and quickly set out to build international relationships, protect their sovereignty, and safeguard their national security. For the last 20 years, the ongoing U. S. military presence in Afghanistan and the struggle between the Afghan government and the Taliban have had a profound impact on the security of the Caspian region and its relationships with the United States.  International forces departed Afghanistan on August 31, 2021, leaving the political and security outlook of Afghanistan in question, and by extension the stability of the entire Caspian region.  The repercussions of this political, humanitarian, and military withdrawal loom large for the countries of Central Asia and the South Caucasus and have the potential to drastically alter the security outlook of the Caspian region.  As this process plays out, the countries of the region will need to develop and employ decisive, creative, and cooperative solutions to both protect their national security and to collaborate with a diverse set of international partners.

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