As we gear up for next month’s 2022 CAMCA Regional Forum which will be held in Washington, D.C., we thought it would be a fitting time to shed more light on the inspiration behind our Foundation’s unique regional focus on the CAMCA (Central Asia-Mongolia-Caucasus-Afghanistan) region, spanning from the South Caucasus to Mongolia.

During his time as U.S. Secretary of Defense, Don Rumsfeld reflected often on the lack of interaction and connections between the United States and the countries of the CAMCA region. Throughout his tenure, he sought to change that trajectory, recognizing the region’s importance and wanting to support the complex transitions these countries faced as post-Soviet states. Toward that aim, Rumsfeld would travel extensively throughout Central Asia, the Caucasus, Afghanistan and Mongolia from 2001-2006, with more than 30 visits to this collection of countries. Further, after concluding his service at the Department of Defense and establishing the Rumsfeld Foundation, he continued his regional travels as he sought to advance the Foundation’s efforts in this important part of the world.

While working to build partnerships in the region on behalf of the United States, Rumsfeld was struck by the impressive individuals with which he met. In particular, he enjoyed interacting with the talented and motivated young professionals he encountered, representing a new generation eager to contribute to the development and success of their countries as they navigated towards freer political and economic systems as sovereign nations.

The impressions made by these individuals would linger with him after he left the Pentagon and would ultimately serve as a catalyst for the development of the Foundation and our CAMCA Fellowship Program. In 2008, Rumsfeld established the program with our partners at the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, with an aim of providing beneficial opportunities and building important connections for rising regional leaders, like those he had met in recent years.

This blog post shares snapshots from some of Rumsfeld’s memorable travels throughout the CAMCA region. Many of these interactions would serve as a meaningful part of the inspiration for our current mission and efforts.

Visit www.camcaforum.org to learn more about the 2022 CAMCA Regional Forum and our CAMCA Fellowship page to learn more about the Fellowship Program.

(Pictured in the blog header is Rumsfeld visting Afghanistan in February of 2004.)