Document Type : Research Paper
Abstract
Objective: Afghanistan is situated at the intersection of two security complexes: Central Asia and Southwest Asia, where the regional distribution of power is dominated by Russia and the United States. This unique geopolitical position has consistently exposed Afghanistan to the direct influence of these two actors’ policies, competition, and security penetration. The objective of this research is to examine Afghanistan’s interaction with these two regions and assess the impact of Russian and U.S. policies on its national security. The main research question is: How has the distribution of power between Russia in Central Asia and the United States in the Middle East affected Afghanistan’s national security during the years 2001–2021?
Method: This research is exploratory in nature, adopting a positivist approach and relying on documented library and online data.
Findings: The structural effects of the regional security complexes on Afghanistan’s national security have been profound. Afghanistan’s interactions with Central Asian and Middle Eastern countries have played a significant role in shaping its security. Moreover, Afghanistan’s security dependence on the rivalries of global powers within the two security complexes, particularly between Russia and the United States, has created numerous challenges for the country.
Conclusion: Weak institutionalization of regional cooperation in Afghanistan’s foreign policy, along with regional disarray, has allowed the contradictory interests of external actors at the regional level to negatively affect the process of national unity and the stabilization of Afghanistan’s security and political institutions. Ultimately, Afghanistan’s dependence on these two security complexes and the competition of dominant powers within them have led to increased activities of non-state armed groups, security vulnerabilities, and the weakening of Afghanistan’s strategic independence.
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