Europe has key economic and security interests at stake in Central Asia, particularly in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. What does China and Russia’s increasingly important partnerships with Central Asian countries mean for Europe’s interests in the region? Are American and European energy, security and geopolitical interests in the region aligned? Is there a case for Europe to step up its strategic dialogue with States such as India on security and energy? What happens in the post-2014 scenario in Afghanistan and how will this affect Europe’s presence in the region?with Dr. Stephen J. Blank, Senior Fellow, American Foreign Policy Council.This lecture is the ninth lecture of the IES Autumn Lecture Series 2014: "The Future of European Geostrategy" jointly organised by the Institute for European Studies-VUB and the Egmont – Royal Institute for International Relations.