US abandons information war in Central Asia – Rosenblum

The former US Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Daniel Rosenblum, stated that America has ’’abandoned the information war’’ in Central Asia, which has created a vacuum for Russian and Chinese influence. He made this remark during his speech on September 19 of this year at Yale University’s Humanities quadrangle.

His lecture, titled ’’Taming the stream of lies: combating Russian disinformation in Central Asia,’’ was attended by around 45 people in person and another 35 via Zoom. Drawing on his six years of experience, Rosenblum highlighted Russia’s ongoing disinformation campaigns aimed at portraying US diplomats as destabilizing forces. For example, in 2023, Russian media outlets accused him of opening a NATO base in Kazakhstan, while in reality, he had attended the opening of a peacekeeping institute’s conference center built with US funding.

’’It is easy to laugh at such absurd claims, but the objectives of Russia’s information operations are extremely serious,’’ Rosenblum said.

In response, US embassies sought to promote positive initiatives, such as distributing medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting farmers through agricultural programs, and sending students to American universities under educational partnerships. However, according to Rosenblum, much of this system was dismantled after 2023. He also criticized the administration of US President Donald Trump for dismissing more than 1,300 State Department employees, shutting down USAID programs, and cutting funding for Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

’’Eight months have passed since Trump’s second presidential term began, and it has now become clear: the information war in Central Asia is over. Not because the Russians won, but because we surrendered. A discredited America is a weak America,’’ Rosenblum stated.

He also noted that China is expanding its influence in the region through investments, infrastructure, and language programs under the Belt and Road Initiative. Rosenblum urged students to recognize the seriousness of the situation.

’’In this war, no one’s body is being sent home, but there are real victims, our country’s reputation, the effectiveness of our diplomats, and our ability to persuade other nations to cooperate in line with our national interests,’’ the former ambassador said.

At the end of the event, Rosenblum told journalists in an interview that, in addition to external challenges, the United States is also undergoing serious internal trials.

’’The biggest problem is ourselves. As a people, we must decide: will we cooperate with the world or not? If we cut ourselves off from the world, in the end we will be less secure and less prosperous,’’ Rosenblum said.

Rosenblum served as the US Ambassador to Uzbekistan from 2019 to 2022 and as the US Ambassador to Kazakhstan from 2022 to 2025.