WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and member of the Armed Services Committee, announced the formation of the Senate Central Asia Caucus. This bipartisan caucus – which Peters will co-chair with U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) – will focus on strengthening the United States’ relationship with our strategic partners in Central Asia, increasing bilateral trade and investment, and supporting regional stability and security as Central Asia becomes increasingly vulnerable to the influence of Russia, China, and Iran.
“I’m proud to help establish this bipartisan coalition to strengthen and reaffirm the United States’ commitment to our strategic partners throughout Central Asia,” said Senator Peters. “Last year, I visited Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan to meet with top officials and deepen the trust and partnership between our nations. This caucus will seek to build on those efforts and others, with the goal of improving U.S. trade relations, creating bilateral economic opportunity, bolstering our security against the rising threats posed by China, Russia, and Iran, and strengthening our counterterrorism cooperation.”
Peters has consistently worked to strengthen U.S. national security and address rising global threats posed by U.S. foreign adversaries, specifically China, Russia, and Iran. Last year, Peters returned from a congressional delegation to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan to demonstrate U.S. engagement and commitment, and to help counter Russian and Chinese influence in the region. Peters met with government officials and civil society leaders throughout the region to discuss shared security, economic and political concerns.
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