Our People > Javier M. Piedra

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Javier M Piedra is a financial consultant with over 40 years of work experience in private and public sectors, international development, finance, marketing and advisory across multiple disciplines (corporate and retail banking, SMEs, hedge fund management, credit reporting, restructuring and sovereign and corporate risk management). He is former acting Assistant Administrator for Asia at USAID in President Trump's first administration.

Articles

United Nations

Tokayev Sides with Trump in Criticism of UN After Escalator, Teleprompter, and Audio Failures

As reported by ULYS Media, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev publicly aligned with President Trump’s criticism of the United Nations after the poorly managed 80th-anniversary UNGA session. Tokayev, who was present in the hall during Trump’s speech when the failures occurred, lent particular weight to his comments given his long-standing institutional knowledge of the UN, having served as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (2011–2013) and representing Kazakhstan in various UN forums over his three decades of diplomatic service. During his address to the General Assembly, President Trump recounted a series of technical incidents: an escalator carrying him and First Lady Melania stalled abruptly, nearly causing a fall; his teleprompter failed at the start of his speech, forcing him to improvise—a skill for which he is well known; and the sound system cut out, leaving much of the audience unable to hear him without interpreter earpieces. He condemned the breakdowns as symbolic of broader UN dysfunction, calling them “a REAL DISGRACE” and alleging “triple sabotage.” Trump urged a Secret Service investigation and preservation of security footage. As reported in ULYS Media, Tokayev said: “I consider the incident that occurred at the UN exceptionally dangerous, an event that could have harmed the health of the President and his spouse. The decision to investigate has already been made and is correct.” He went on: “On the other hand, this is the most serious failure, one might even say a collapse, of the UN Secretariat, all employees of the relevant services and departments. To allow such a blunder during the anniversary session of the UN General Assembly is beyond negligence, unless, of course, it is a deliberate sabotage, which is also quite possible given the negative and even depressive sentiments among UN staff.” Tokayev sharpened his critique further, describing the United Nations as suffering a “serious decline” in political effectiveness and managerial competence. He highlighted weakened public trust in the organization’s leadership, an ever more paralyzed Security Council incapable of addressing pressing issues, and an internal culture marked by indifference, fatigue, and low morale—even within the higher decision-making bodies. Tokayev and Trump converge in their sharp criticism of the United Nations, pointing to mismanagement within the Secretariat, the erosion of credibility among its leaders, and the paralysis of the Security Council. Tokayev has even echoed Trump’s remarks approvingly, recognizing their shared view that the organization has drifted into inefficiency and neglect. At the same time, he underscores the urgency of bold reforms to restore the UN’s effectiveness and authority, reinforcing the common ground both leaders have staked out in calling for change. Trump would have welcomed Tokayev’s additional words: “Several of my colleagues have expressed to me an accurate opinion: even the material condition of the UN’s main building [in New York], the common home of humanity, is in a state of decline. And it is hard to argue with President Trump here; he openly spoke about the mismanagement and indifference of the leaders of this global organization.” Tokayev concluded by reiterating...

9 months ago

Book Launch

Book Launch at the U.S. Capitol: New Uzbekistan: The Path of Shavkat Mirziyoyev

On September 16, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington, D.C., hosted a book launch at the Rayburn Building on Capitol Hill for New Uzbekistan: The Path of Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The event drew diplomats, congressional staff, and representatives from companies such as General Motors and Boeing. The keynote address was delivered by Sodyq Safayev, First Deputy Chairperson of Uzbekistan’s Senate. Other speakers included Husan Ermatov, the book’s Uzbek-language editor and advisor to Uzbekistan’s Ishonch newspaper; Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan; Lisa Choate, President and CEO of American Councils; and Elena Son, Executive Director of the American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce. Speakers highlighted Uzbekistan’s recent trajectory, noting shifts from a state-controlled economy and limited international engagement (1993–2016) to more market-oriented policies and broader foreign relations (2017–present). They also framed today’s Uzbekistan as shaped by historical experiences and cultural development, which some described as an “Uzbek Renaissance.” According to the speakers, President Mirziyoyev has promoted reforms in areas including governance, socio-economic development, and international outreach. Safayev remarked: “this [book signing] is not just about diplomacy but about shared values, mutual understanding, and a common vision of the future. The book before you, authored by Qudratilla Rafiqov, Uzbek scholar and political scientist, is a chronicle of change, resilience, and hope. The most difficult part of this book is a [description of the] transformation of hearts and minds. Its central message is simple and powerful: the history of Uzbekistan is written by people through their interactions and aspirations. And justice lies at the heart of reform.” By justice, he clarified, he meant fairness—ensuring that citizens have opportunities for family stability, safety, and employment. While the book presents Uzbekistan’s current government agenda in a favorable light, it also introduces new readers to the President’s stated priorities: attracting investment, promoting rule of law and fairness, liberalizing the economy, restructuring social policies, contributing to global peace efforts, and maintaining pragmatic security and foreign policy strategies. Aripov emphasized that the book is “not really about reforms, or about a leader who has been able to initiate and implement large-scale transformation in a very short period of time. It is a testimony to a new era into which Uzbekistan is entering. Today, hopes are rising in Uzbekistan, a sense of national pride is strengthened, and ambitions are being achieved that only recently seemed unattainable. These changes are being felt by ordinary citizens. They see how their lives are improving, how opportunities are expanding, and how confidence in the future is becoming a reality. That is why this book is not only a chronicle of, but also a symbol of faith that Uzbekistan can become one of the centers of sustainable development, openness and cooperation in Eurasia and the wider world. Why do I believe this to be the case? Because, under my President, the country has moved from ‘guarded isolation’ to ‘post-purposeful openness,’ from managing risks to exporting stability, and from ad hoc transactions to rules-based cooperation.” The Uzbek Embassy,...

9 months ago

U.S.-Turkmenistan Relations

Opinion: Gas, Geopolitics, and Realism: U.S.–Turkmenistan Talks Signal Shift

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Turkmen counterpart Rashid Meredov wrapped up bilateral consultations last week in Washington, DC. The encounter suggested a new awareness on Washington’s part of Turkmenistan’s pivotal geostrategic location in the heart of Central Asia and its status as a major hub of natural resources. Since becoming head of state in March 2022, Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov has shifted his country’s foreign policy from one of strategic isolation to what might be called practical realism, whereby priority is given to fair trade and investments that are in line with national interests and long-term development. Like the other Central Asian heads of state, Berdimuhamedov also champions a pragmatic, interest-based foreign policy. Consequently, they find the current, pragmatic U.S. administration with its concern to work out deals (presumably mutually beneficial ones) more congenial than its predecessor, with its penchant for geostrategic maneuvering and ideology. Secretary Rubio recently observed: “A mature foreign policy requires a balancing of interests - that’s a fact.” This way of thinking goes over well in smaller independent states such as Turkmenistan and other Central Asian countries, whose key national priorities include establishing their statehood on a firm basis and safeguarding their sovereignty amid the turbulent great power politics being played out in their vicinity. Oil and Gas Over the years, Berdimuhamedov has insisted that foreign entities seeking access to the country’s vast natural gas reserves must play by Ashgabat’s rules. Home to the world’s fourth-largest gas reserves, Turkmenistan invites foreign participation in its energy sector, provided that agreements are structured as win-win arrangements and don’t give suitors the geostrategic upper hand. In this context, it would make sense for Washington to get the word out about two upcoming conferences in Ashgabat: The Turkmenistan Investment Forum, September 18– 19, 2025, which will serve to attract long-term investment into the country's economy, and the 30th Oil & Gas of Turkmenistan – 2025 International Conference & EXPO (OGT 2025) on 22–24 October. Turkmenistan had a strong 2024 in terms of energy, producing 77.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 8.3 million tons of oil. The OGT 2025 will showcase the country’s resource potential and new investment opportunities, focusing on upstream projects such as the Galkynysh gas field and the Caspian blocks, as well as on initiatives in the areas of renewable energy, methane mitigation, and infrastructure modernization. Moreover, Ashgabat wants to expand its Trans-Caspian and north-south economic corridors and complete the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, among other initiatives in transport and logistics. U.S. companies may want to explore these new opportunities. Travel Limitations to the U.S. Ashgabat is working with the U.S. Department of State to lift recently imposed restrictions on Turkmen citizens wishing to travel to the U.S. Both sides are aiming to ensure that applicants are properly screened before a visa is granted and that recipients comply with its terms. To further deepen ties, Washington should view Turkmenistan’s neutrality towards others on the global stage in security and foreign-policy matters not as an obstacle, but as an advantage that facilitates dialogue. While maintaining its advocacy for democratic principles,...

10 months ago

Diplomacy

Kazakhstan Showcases Middle Power Role in Washington D.C.: Kazakh Ambassador Ashikbayev Spreads the Message

Like it or not, the world is moving away from unipolar dominance and entering an era of multipolarity where national interests increasingly counter the globalist ambitions of some major powers. In this evolving landscape, as the major powers adjust to new geopolitical realities, an increasing number of states are becoming more comfortable operating autonomously as sovereign nations. Against this backdrop, Kazakhstan is emerging as a middle power, conscious all the same of the risks associated with remaining neutral in the oft-times bitter rivalries between major powers. Over the past twenty years, Kazakhstan has consistently signaled that it will not be drawn into the strategic maneuverings of foreign powers, instead pursuing its own national interests in a measured fashion – rather like the other Central Asian states – so as not to undermine regional stability. Accordingly, Astana offers good offices to foster dialogue and reconciliation among countries and blocs affected by conflict and/or heightened strategic competition. Murat Nurtleu, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister, underscores just that point: “In this era of geopolitical competition, Kazakhstan’s role as a bridge between East and West is more vital than ever.” These words not only highlight Kazakhstan’s confidence and expanding role as a rising middle power but aim to mitigate the potential consequences of great power overreach, whether in Central Asia or elsewhere. In a recent interview in Washington DC with this writer, Ambassador Yerzhan Ashikbayev of Kazakhstan to the United States elaborated: “Kazakhstan is a middle power, which means, broadly speaking, a country that holds an influential position in the international system, especially in Eurasia. Maintaining peaceful relations with our neighbors – major, middle, and minor powers – is a top priority for us. We work to shape outcomes beyond our own borders, keeping in mind our national interests, always fostering friendly and mutually beneficial ties – a modus vivendi – with our neighbors.” It is well-known that Astana’s global diplomatic strategy prioritizes fair trade and aims to strengthen inter-regional economic ties – especially in transport, logistics, finance, and communications. It views economic development – with an emphasis on building an economically stable middle class across ethnicities – as key to national unity and regional stability. It is less known that Kazakhstan, in its diplomatic pragmatism, winces at unequal power relations, preferring to focus on long-term equity outcomes over short-term efficiency in matters of economic development. Ambassador Ashikbayev emphasizes that “Kazakhstan’s foreign policy opens space where dialogue can flourish. Guided by pragmatism, we will concentrate on practical matters like communication, quality investment flows, fair commerce, energy, and critical minerals.” He insists that “for the international system to flourish, it should function well for all, promoting peace and the common good for the majority. That is what we export - peace.” U.S. Secretary of State Marcio Rubio also emphasizes the need to keep peace front and center: “President [Trump] wants to end wars. He’s not a fan of wars. He thinks wars are a waste of time and a waste of lives. And we’re going to continue to do everything we can and engage...

10 months ago

Architecture

In a New Light: Kazakhstan’s Evolving Relationship with Design and Atmosphere

For much of its recent history, Kazakhstan’s image has been shaped by the discourse of natural resource extraction — oil, gas, metals, the infrastructure to transport them, and the political influence they provide. But, a quiet transformation of its public and private spaces is underway, one not measured in barrels, commodity prices, or contracts, but by lighting or lights, which means ambience, illumination, aesthetics, and the atmosphere of lived space. Lighting, of all things, is central to human existence and part of its development story. It may seem peripheral, but in architecture, lighting is never neutral. It guides, reveals, softens, and dramatizes space. It also mirrors taste, cultural aspirations, and society’s choices. [caption id="attachment_34248" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Astana Opera; image: Dilyara Abdirakhmanova[/caption] Light is the Language of Architecture and Space Some of Kazakhstan’s most emblematic public buildings already utilize the optimal use of lighting. The Astana Opera, for example, with its marble staircases and opulent chandeliers, is illuminated to bring out its grandeur and high culture. Its stage is masterfully lit so that musicians are inspired to give their best performances. Likewise, the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, a crystalline pyramid designed by Foster + Partners, plays with transparency and glow, its stained-glass summit flickering between monument and mirage, giving voice to the need for peace in our time. Then there’s the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center — part shopping mall, part climate-controlled urban experiment — which glows at night through its tensile skin - representing a range of civic and family-friendly amenities offering a comfortable and eye-pleasing microclimate for all. And then there’s the Hazrat Sultan Mosque, designed and lit for reverence and reflection. Daylight barrels through high arches; at dusk, soft interior light catches the tracery of Quranic calligraphy, domes, and minarets. The lighting is generous but subtle, quiet, and precise. In each of these cases, light isn’t an afterthought. It reaches out to the subconscious and makes daily human activity more pleasant. [caption id="attachment_34249" align="aligncenter" width="2000"] The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation; image: Foster + Partners[/caption] A Gap in Everyday Life Until recently, there has been little discussion in Central Asia about the link between lighting and its impact on the human person. Walking through many apartment buildings, offices, restaurants, and public lobbies, the atmosphere is flat, cold, and covered in uninspiring glare, often overpowering and at times blinding. These spaces may function, but they don’t resonate and are often uninviting. This state of affairs – the depressing nature of fluorescent grids – in the world of lighting is beginning to change, slowly, and unevenly. This shift towards ‘more welcoming’ lighting isn’t being driven by architects alone, or even by design schools. Demand comes from developers, hoteliers, homeowners, and restaurateurs who want to serve their clients better in an increasingly competitive environment. In this more mobile and inquisitive world, people want lighting that feels and works better for clients, employees, and oneself. A Market Beginning to Notice Enter enterprises like iSquare, a recently launched lighting design firm in Almaty. Its operating...

11 months ago

Religion

More Lennon, Less Lenin: Clerics to Huddle in Kazakhstan to Give Peace a Chance

In a world wracked by war, mistrust, and political gridlock, spiritual leaders from across the globe will gather on September 17–18, 2025, in Astana for the Eighth Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. The event aims to rekindle the hope of peace, not through the exercise of geopolitical power alone, but by revisiting transcendent truths and moral values. Convened under the patronage of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Congress is more than a ceremonial dialogue among clerics. Organizers and participants describe it as an urgent appeal to depoliticize religion, recalibrate diplomacy, and — channeling John Lennon — "give peace a chance." As the principal architect of the Congress, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is expected to deliver a speech this September that is as optimistic as his keynote at the opening ceremony of the seventh Congress in 2023, despite deepening diplomatic challenges. Two years ago, he said, “Unfortunately, tension, mutual distrust, and even hostility are returning to international relations. What can we rely on to counter today’s challenges? History provides only one answer: goodwill, dialogue, and cooperation. There are no other guarantees of success. Threats, sanctions, and the use of force do not solve problems… We must turn to humanistic ideals, the main custodians of which are, of course, traditional religions.” This year’s gathering will once again feature a mosaic of spiritual leaders — from representatives of the Vatican and al-Azhar to leaders of Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Orthodox Christianity. While their theological traditions may differ, their shared focus will be on promoting compassion, truth, and mutual respect in a fractured world. “The world is spiraling into confrontation because it has lost the language of empathy and the grammar of reason,” Kazakhstan's former Ambassador to India and Senior Advisor at the International Centre for Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue, Bulat Sarsenbayev, told The Times of Central Asia in an interview. “The Congress in Astana is not about theology alone — it is about restoring sanity in geopolitics.” A Platform for Peace According to Maulen Ashimbayev, Speaker of the Kazakh Senate and Chief of the Secretariat of the Congress, the event can serve to help heal an increasingly fractured global landscape. Visiting China in January, Ashimbayev stated that, "The world faces today a rather complicated geopolitical situation. New challenges and problems arise. In these conditions, the collective and united efforts of religious, political, and public leaders to promote a culture of peace and dialogue are gaining importance. The VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions will be dedicated to this very goal.” From Ceremony to Substance This year, the Congress is set to explicitly condemn religious extremism and the weaponization of faith, distinguishing between politicized religion and authentic spiritual leadership. Rather than allowing the precept that “might is right” and faith to be hijacked by ideologues, the forum will call for religion to be a bridge-builder, not a wedge, and for diplomats to engage in genuine dialogue in a spirit of compromise, not one-sided diktat. Past participants have included Pope...

11 months ago

Central Asia-China Summit

Opinion: As Kazakhstan-China Trade Booms, Tokayev and XI Strengthen Relations

On June 16th, Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping and the presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in Astana at the second China-Central Asia Summit. The six countries signed the 'Treaty of Permanent Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation', which reinforced their strategic cooperation in multiple areas, particularly in trade and investment. Aggregate China-Central Asia trade is up 10.4% this year. Kazakhstan is a pivotal player in transcontinental Eurasian trade and integration. Its geographic location, multimodal transport networks, and strategic partnerships with neighboring countries, particularly China, position Kazakhstan as Central Asia’s primary overland gateway to Europe and West Asia. It’s no surprise, therefore, that President Xi Jinping visited Astana – his sixth trip to Kazakhstan and sixteenth to Central Asia. Over the past two decades, Kazakhstan has reclaimed its historic role as a nation of merchants and intermediaries, revitalizing trade routes like the middle corridor and logistics hubs such as Khorgos Gateway—a dry port facilitating container transshipment between Chinese and Kazakh railways en route to Europe. These are just two examples of infrastructure projects in Kazakhstan; there are many more in development. In Astana, Presidents Tokayev and Xi underscored the importance of further socio-economic progress arising from enhanced economic linkages. Tokayev reiterated Kazakhstan’s support for mutually beneficial business opportunities, emphasizing the principle of national sovereignty and independence. Recent trade figures reflect the robust economic ties in infrastructure and connectivity. Kazakhstan’s construction sector, driven by investments in transport, are poised to increase by 6.8% in 2025, according to Kazakhstani economists. Sino-Central Asian trade, according to China’s General Administration of Customs, reached $94.8 billion in 2024, with Kazakhstan accounting for 46% of that total—$43.8 billion—making it China’s largest partner in the region. This contrasts with Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan's combined total of $28.1 billion, and Kyrgyzstan’s $22.7 billion, driven largely by re-exports and gold. Kazakhstan remains the anchor economy in Central Asia – the strategic hinge between China and the West – as confirmed not only by the volumes of freight entering and leaving Kazakhstan, but by its upstream and downstream economic benefits, causing a multiplier effect across the country. Over 80% of land cargo from China to Europe passes through Kazakhstan. What factors have led to this development? A key factor has been global demand for raw materials, but that’s only part of the story. What stands out as the principal driver of Kazakhstan’s success in boosting trade over the past 20 years was its commitment soon after independence in 1991 to invest in transport and logistics, while creating a regulatory and legal framework in parallel to facilitate operability. In other words, Kazakhstan’s success is no accident. It was the country in Central Asia to embrace economic liberalization not as ideology, but as a pragmatic approach to address the inefficiencies of a centralized command economy. This visionary approach facilitated economic liberalization, including getting rid of oppressive centralized planning and embracing private capital and deregulation without relinquishing sovereignty. Kazakhstan also pushed ahead in developing a banking sector that over time provided a...

12 months ago

Trump Administration

Opinion: How the Emerging Trump Doctrine Played at Astana International Forum

With His Riyadh Allocution, Trump Ripped Up the Foreign Policy Playbook The May 29–30 Astana International Forum (AIF) in Kazakhstan drew thousands of attendees — heads of state, senior diplomats, and entrepreneurs — eager for insights into Central Asia’s rising global significance. Topics ranged from foreign policy and water management to energy, trade, and economic integration. A key message from the organizers was that Middle Powers — Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Türkiye, South Africa, Argentina, and others — should serve as bridges to peace and solidarity amid growing global polarization and Great Power conflict. Unsurprisingly, lots of folk were trying to horn in on business opportunities – mainly agriculture, mining, and metals, of which there is an abundance in the region. Yet the real buzz in the hallways and cafés wasn’t about panel discussions, raw materials, or the next sound bite for the press. What had international policy mavens all atwitter was President Trump’s unexpected speech in Saudi Arabia – which might well prove to be the Trump Doctrine: global crises, he said, are better resolved through diplomacy and mutually beneficial business partnerships, not bayonets, diktat, and moral sermonizing. That message, coming from the President of the United States, landed with force. During the three days I spent in Astana, I noticed that many delegates who normally spoke in well-rehearsed sound bites designed not to offend, suddenly spoke more bluntly, even going off-script. They dropped the cautious language and the standard foreign policy group-speak. What was going on? Was this the Trump effect? My guess is that Trump’s Riyadh allocution was intended to rip up the decades-old foreign policy playbook of Brussels, London, and prior U.S. administrations. Instead of promoting the globalist/woke agenda, which had been de rigueur at international diplomatic clambakes of the Astana sort, Trump called for détente and reciprocity – more the realism of Nixon and Kissinger (leavened with a pinch of Ronald Reagan) than the idealism of Wilson and FDR. He wanted to deliver on his promise to the American people to make America great again (including boosting domestic manufacturing) rather than squander precious resources beating down any country that looks at us cross-eyed. Trump’s Riyadh speech — like his inaugural address — called for a peaceable foreign policy. That message reverberated in Astana: “Before our eyes, a new generation of leaders is transcending the ancient conflicts and tired divisions of the past and forging a future where the Middle East is defined by commerce, not chaos; where it exports technology, not terrorism; and where people of different nations, religions, and creeds are building cities together — not bombing each other out of existence.” Perhaps most cutting was Trump’s indictment of interventionist dogma: “This great transformation has not come from Western interventionists giving you lectures... The gleaming marvels of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were not built by 'nation-builders,' 'neo-cons,' or 'liberal non-profits'... Instead, the birth of a modern Middle East has been brought about by the people of the region themselves – pursuing their own visions and charting...

1 year ago

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