Kazakhstan International Affairs - The Times Of Central Asia

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Strategic Partnership

Tokayev in New York: $100B U.S. Investment Push Boosts Kazakhstan Ties

Kazakhstan and the United States are continuing to strengthen their strategic partnership, with investment playing a central role. At a roundtable with U.S. business representatives in New York, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that American investments in Kazakhstan’s economy have surpassed $100 billion. “Today, more than 630 American companies are successfully operating in our country, including Chevron, ExxonMobil, Boeing, Visa, Mastercard, Meta, Wabtec, and Citibank. We regard the U.S. as an important strategic partner and reaffirm our commitment to further developing multifaceted cooperation,” Tokayev said. The president noted that Kazakhstan’s economy grew by 6.5% in the first eight months of 2025. He added that ongoing political and economic reforms are creating favorable conditions for long-term growth and attracting further investment. Energy and Uranium: The Cornerstone of Cooperation Energy continues to underpin U.S.-Kazakhstan relations. “We recognize and highly value the large and successful investments of Chevron and ExxonMobil over the past 30 years. Despite all the turbulence in regional geopolitics, their presence in our country has never been questioned,” Tokayev said. He pointed out that Kazakhstan supplies about 40% of the global uranium market and nearly a quarter of U.S. imports. Tokayev also highlighted Kazakhstan’s “four sources” strategy - oil, gas, coal, and uranium - and expressed support for the U.S. approach to coal as a reliable energy source in the near term. $4.2 Billion Wabtec Agreement: A Landmark Deal A key outcome of Tokayev’s U.S. visit was the signing of a $4.2 billion agreement with American locomotive manufacturer Wabtec. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the deal will see Kazakhstan’s national railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), acquire 300 ES44Aci Evolution Series freight locomotives over the next decade. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick described the contract as the "largest in history,” noting it would create approximately 11,000 jobs in Texas and Pennsylvania. “This is not just a story of massive success, it’s an example of how American innovation strengthens global leadership,” he posted on X. Wabtec President and CEO Rafael Santana added, “This project represents KTZ’s ambition to transform Kazakhstan’s railway network into a key bridge between Europe and Asia.” Tokayev has emphasized that Kazakhstan is upgrading transport hubs and rolling out a “Smart Cargo” digital customs and logistics system to streamline east–west and Trans-Caspian transit traffic. Presidential Support: Trump and Tokayev Hold Call The Wabtec agreement was preceded by a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and President Tokayev. “I just concluded a wonderful call with the Highly Respected President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly Tokayev,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He emphasized the significance of the locomotive deal and linked it to his broader support for revitalizing U.S. infrastructure. “We need to support our rail industry, which has been attacked for years by ‘fake environmentalists.’ Now railroads are coming back and fast!” he said. Observers noted that Trump’s personal involvement underscored the political importance of the agreement for bilateral relations. Green Energy Progress: SAF Plant with LanzaJet Another notable development was the agreement between Kazakhstan’s national oil...

United Nations

Trump and Tokayev Secure a Historic $4.2 Billion Locomotive Deal

Washington, D.C. – The United States and Kazakhstan have finalized the largest locomotive agreement in history, a $4.2 billion deal that underscores American industrial strength and deepens ties between the two nations. The announcement came following a call between President Donald Trump and Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, which officials say directly helped bring the deal across the finish line. The U.S. Department of Commerce confirmed that Pennsylvania-based Wabtec will supply about 300 Evolution Series locomotives, in kit form, to Kazakhstan’s state railway over the next decade. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasized the scale of the export package, writing on X that the deal is “more than just a huge success story. It’s about American innovation leading the world, supporting thousands of jobs in TX & PA, and strengthening the U.S.–Kazakhstan partnership.” For Trump, the Pennsylvania tie is notable — the state is both home to Wabtec and a perennial battleground in presidential politics. What Trump and Tokayev said President Trump celebrated the breakthrough personally on Truth Social: “I just concluded a wonderful call with the Highly Respected President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly Tokayev. They have signed the largest Railroad Equipment Purchase in History, $4 Billion Dollars Worth of United States Locomotives and Rail Equipment”. He continued: “Congratulations to President Tokayev on his great purchase. This Country, and the World, was built on reliable, beautiful Railroads. Now they will be coming back, FAST!” Earlier in September, Trump had told reporters he had a “great conversation” with Tokayev — a remark that signaled improving ties between Washington and Astana ahead of the deal. On Sept. 22, the Commerce Department formally confirmed the $4.2 billion agreement. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, in a separate statement on X, emphasized that the leaders’ engagement helped pave the way and argued the deal strengthens an enhanced strategic partnership while embedding American technology in Eurasian connectivity. President Tokayev, for his part, has emphasized transport and logistics as central to Kazakhstan’s role as a “link between Europe and Asia,” calling for expanded rail infrastructure and modern customs systems. In July, amid tariff tensions, he assured Trump in a letter that Kazakhstan was “ready for constructive dialogue” and was confident a compromise could be reached — a posture that laid groundwork for the closer economic cooperation reflected in this deal. Why It Matters: Unlocking Regional Corridors to the West The locomotives will reinforce capacity along the Trans-Caspian “Middle Corridor,” a trade route carrying goods from Central Asia through the South Caucasus and into Europe—an alternative to Russian and Iranian transit that governments have accelerated since 2022. A critical gap in that chain was addressed through U.S.-brokered diplomacy in August 2025, when President Trump hosted Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the White House. The two leaders signed a peace declaration after decades of conflict and committed to reopening transport links, most notably a 42-kilometer passage through Armenia’s Syunik province, commonly called the Zangezur corridor or the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). By...

Water Management

Kazakhstan and China Expand Cooperation in Water Management

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Power China to strengthen bilateral collaboration in water management. The agreement outlines plans for modernizing hydraulic infrastructure, reconstructing irrigation systems, and enhancing technical capacity through training programs and specialist exchanges. It also includes provisions for digitalization, investment in water conservation, and the efficient use of water resources. The cooperation extends to scientific research, hydrogeology, and the training of groundwater management specialists. As part of the agreement, the fourth group of Kazakh water sector professionals is currently undergoing advanced training at Power China facilities. Since the beginning of 2025, 125 specialists from Kazakhstan have been trained in China, with another 200 expected to join the program in 2026. All training expenses are being covered by the Chinese side. This follows the first-ever memorandum of understanding on water cooperation signed between the governments of Kazakhstan and China in March 2025. That agreement emphasized the rational and sustainable use of water resources, the adoption of modern technologies, alternative water sourcing, experience-sharing, and the joint training of water management personnel. The collaboration is especially significant given the shared hydrological landscape: three of Kazakhstan’s major rivers, the Irtysh, Ili, and Emel, originate in China. In the first half of 2025, Kazakhstan received 10.2 billion cubic meters of water from China via these transboundary rivers, including 4.6 billion cubic meters from the Irtysh and 5.6 billion from the Ili. Increased inflow from the Ili River enabled the Kapchagay Reservoir in the Almaty region to reach full capacity for the second consecutive year. Since the beginning of 2025, some 8.52 billion cubic meters of water have been directed downstream to Lake Balkhash, raising its water level by an average of 32 centimeters in the first half of the year. The Ili River alone contributes nearly 70% of Lake Balkhash’s total inflow, making it a critical source for maintaining the ecological balance of the region.

Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions

Faith and Diplomacy: Kazakhstan Reconciles Religious Leaders

On September 17-18, 2025, Kazakhstan’s capital hosted the 8th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. The event reinforced what has become increasingly evident: the Congress is evolving into a meaningful instrument of global dialogue, one President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev hopes to leverage in his broader efforts to reform the United Nations. Three years ago, the 7th Congress was notable for the visit of the late Pope Francis, who held a mass in Astana for residents and guests of the capital. This year’s edition welcomed another high-profile religious figure: Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, who echoed the growing view that the Congress now carries global influence. “We have truly found a global interfaith platform, a group of people interested in working together for peace and prosperity,” Patriarch Kirill said. “Alongside other significant platforms, we can participate in solving, or at least studying, the problems confronting all of humanity. It is important that religious leaders of different faiths work hand in hand today as one family, which speaks to the closeness of our positions.” In his opening remarks, President Tokayev described the global situation as one of rising tension and deepening instability. “Hybrid wars being waged across various regions have no clear front lines, yet they result in significant casualties, refugee crises, and massive damage to the world economy,” he said. “The risk of nuclear conflict is greater now than at any point in recent decades.” In such a climate, Tokayev argued, the moral authority of religious leaders is more vital than ever. “We are placing our hopes on religious figures to help prevent global chaos, reminding politicians of common sense, goodwill, and moral responsibility.” He proposed further development of his earlier idea, a global “Movement for Peace” under the umbrella of the Congress. “Religious hierarchies could become the moral backbone of such a movement, issuing a neutral and apolitical call to end violence and seek peaceful solutions. Grounded in universal values like the sanctity of life, compassion, and mercy, it could unite not only believers, but also political leaders, NGOs, experts, and youth,” Tokayev said. Over the next two days, delegates from 60 countries, representing diverse cultures, civilizations, and faiths, gathered to discuss major global challenges. Their work culminated in the Declaration of the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which was read at the closing session by George Jacob Kuttianickal, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue of the Holy See. The Declaration endorsed Tokayev’s peace initiative and emphasized the need to intensify international dialogue. It proposed a series of global and regional events to advance a culture of peace, as well as active promotion of the Congress’s goals within the UN and other international forums. “We call on the international community and the UN General Assembly to acknowledge the Congress’s 20-year contribution to dialogue and harmony among religions, and to strengthening peace and mutual understanding,” the Declaration stated. Delegates also reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s growing role as a respected...

UN General Assembly

Tokayev at the UN Underscores Kazakhstan’s New Diplomacy

Kazakhstan’s international visibility is reaching a peak this late summer and early autumn of 2025. In August, UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited Astana, praising the country’s role as a stabilizing influence in Central Asia and a supporter of multilateral institutions. In a few days, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will address the UN General Assembly in New York, presenting Kazakhstan as a reliable partner in peacekeeping, sustainable development, and nonproliferation. This upcoming UN speech marks a departure from past appearances, signaling Astana’s intent not only to balance powers but also to set global agendas. Together, these events signify the country’s ascent as a state no longer defined solely by the art of survival between great powers, but one that now seeks to set agendas, convene adversaries, and project norms beyond its borders. This dual UN moment illustrates the broader transformation of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy over the past year: the shift from multi-vector balancing, an inheritance of the Nazarbayev era, toward a more assertive mode of multi-actor entrepreneurship. Framed through the UN stage, Kazakhstan’s diplomacy now aspires to translate regional initiatives into a global narrative. Rather than oscillating between Moscow, Beijing, Brussels, and Washington, Astana has begun to use its accumulated diplomatic capital to initiate, mediate, and institutionalize regional and global frameworks. From Balance to Initiative For three decades after independence, Kazakhstan’s “multi-vector” foreign policy served as a model of survival in a region shaped by the clash of external rivalries. The doctrine emphasized equidistance between Russia, China, and the West, with an overlay of pragmatic economic engagement. In practice, this often meant leveraging one relationship to offset pressure from another while securing steady inflows of trade and investment. Today, however, the war in Ukraine, the erosion of European security, and the sharper contest between Beijing and Washington have undermined the viability of simple balancing. In response, Tokayev’s government has shifted its approach, seeking to overlay a more agenda-setting dynamic on multi-vectorism by positioning Kazakhstan as a regional hub for diplomacy and connectivity. At the UN, this shift might be presented as Kazakhstan’s evolution from passive survival to a more proactive approach to international diplomacy. Astana’s task is to transform such declarations into a durable strategy. Central Asia and the South Caucasus The clearest evidence of Kazakhstan’s new role comes from Central Asia itself. Relations with Uzbekistan, once characterized by rivalry, have been recast as a cornerstone of functional regionalism. Over the past twelve months, Astana and Tashkent have concluded demarcation agreements, expanded electricity grid interconnections, and coordinated positions on water resource management. The consultative meetings of Central Asian leaders, which Kazakhstan has championed, now serve as regularized platforms for joint initiatives, from infrastructure to practical economic integration, with attempts to reduce Russian and Chinese influence. At the UN, this shift may be framed as Kazakhstan’s evolution from mere survival to actively pioneering new approaches in international diplomacy. For Kazakhstan, the partnership with Uzbekistan provides buffering against external pressure and multiplies regional influence. Astana has also made use of the UN Regional Centre...

UN General Assembly

Central Asian Presidents at UNGA-80: All Five Confirmed

New York, Sept 22, 2025 – Central Asia will have a strong presence at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA-80), with four of the region’s presidents confirmed to attend in person. One leader’s participation, however, remains unannounced. From Kazakhstan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is scheduled to be in New York from September 21 to 23. The Kazakh presidency confirmed that he will deliver his country’s national statement and meet with other heads of state on the sidelines of the high-level week. Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov is officially confirmed to be in New York from September 22 to September 25, where he is scheduled to deliver a speech in the General Debate. Japarov will also join a UN Security Council discussion on AI and a high-level climate event, while holding bilateral meetings with Secretary-General António Guterres and leaders from multiple regions. In Tajikistan, the presidential press service announced on September 21 that President Emomali Rahmon departed Dushanbe for New York to attend UNGA-80. He is accompanied by senior officials and is expected to speak during the General Debate. From Turkmenistan, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov left Ashgabat on September 21 for a working trip to New York. Turkmen state media confirmed his participation in UNGA-80, marking his direct representation of the country at the session. Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in New York on September 20 for a visit lasting through September 24. His agenda includes addressing the General Debate on its opening day and holding bilateral meetings with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and other world leaders. With the General Debate opening on September 23, Central Asia is set to be represented at the highest level by all five of its nations: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.