A Golden Era For US-Central Asia Relations?

Hybrid

Ajar Chekirova, Elena Son-LaRocco, and Alex Cooley explore Central Asia’s rising role and what it could mean for US engagement and diaspora communities.

Trump Administration meeting with leaders from Central Asia

Apr

Jacquelyn Martin / AP

Speakers

Ajar Chekirova
Elena V. Son-LaRocco
Alexander Cooley

Date and Time

Apr 30: 5:30 - 6:30 pm CDT

Doors Open: 5:15 pm

Location

Chicago Council Conference Center, 130 E Randolph Street; or via YouTube

Who Can Attend

For All

REGISTRATION

This event is open to the public.

As US relations with many allies grow strained, ties with Central Asia are warming. The region offers key resources, trade corridors, and diplomatic opportunities, and Central Asian governments are eager to cooperate with Washington. Central Asian immigrants have also built vibrant communities in cities like Chicago, contributing to transportation, logistics, and entrepreneurship.

Can the US sustain meaningful engagement in a region it has historically struggled to prioritize? What do Central Asian countries want from Washington, and what does deeper US involvement mean for a region long accustomed to balancing Russia and China? What challenges are Central Asian diasporas facing? Join Ajar Chekirova, Elena Son-LaRocco, and Alex Cooley for a conversation on Central Asia's evolving role in US strategy and American communities.

About the Speakers

Ajar Chekirova

Assistant Professor, Politics, Lake Forest College

Ajar Chekirova is an assistant professor of politics at Lake Forest College. Her research interests include comparative politics and urban politics with a focus on migration, citizenship, displacement and urban development. Other fields of expertise include American politics as well as research methodology.

Elena V. Son-LaRocco

Executive Director, Central Asia Business Council

Elena V. Son-LaRocco is the executive director of the American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce, the US-Kyrgyzstan Business Council, the US-Tajikistan Business Council, and the US-Afghanistan Business Initiative. Her work emphasizes trade and investment opportunities, market access, and creating a competitive and favorable business climate in the region.

Alexander Cooley

Senior Nonresident Fellow, Eurasia Affairs

Alexander Cooley is the Claire Tow Professor of Political Science at Barnard College and former director of Columbia University’s Harriman Institute for the Study of Russia, Eurasia, and Eastern Europe. His research focuses on sovereignty, governance, and political development in post-Communist states, especially in Central Asia and the Caucasus. He joined the Chicago Council as a senior nonresident fellow on Eurasia affairs in 2025.