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Kazakh Deputy PM Zhumangarin: Our Industries Come Before Sanctions

Kazakhstan has clarified its position on sanctions against Russia imposed as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Primarily, Kazakhstan will not support measures that could negatively impact its economy. Speaking to Russian state media outlet Tass, Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin underscored that Kazakhstan will not act as a conduit for circumventing sanctions, as doing so could severely affect its domestic industries. However, he emphasized the nation's commitment to safeguarding its economic interests, particularly in sectors where products might fall under sanction restrictions. “We have explicitly stated that we will not impose restrictions on these goods, as behind them are large labor collectives and enterprises, often located in single-industry towns,” Zhumangarin explained. During Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Kazakhstan on November 27-28, he met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The leaders issued a joint statement condemning unilateral sanctions, citing their detrimental effects on global trade, economic cooperation, and sustainable development. They reaffirmed their commitment to principles of open and non-discriminatory international trade. By maintaining a neutral stance on sanctions, Kazakhstan seeks to minimize economic risks while prioritizing the interests of its workforce and industries. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Russia, Dauren Abayev, noted that Kazakh companies aim to avoid secondary sanctions but will continue fostering close cooperation with Russia. In an August interview with Bloomberg, Zhumangarin reiterated that Kazakhstan would not blindly adhere to sanctions against Russia but would consider international restrictions. He highlighted that while Kazakhstan aims to protect its companies from trade bans, it cannot completely disregard sanctions due to the risk of economic isolation. Furthermore, Kazakhstan's Minister of National Economy, Nurlan Baibazarov, addressed concerns in early November regarding including Kazakh companies on UK sanctions lists. He emphasized that these cases mostly involved transient firms, asserting that Kazakhstan continues to comply with international regulations.

internal affairs CSTO Global Diplomacy Foreign Policy Foreign Affairs CIS

CSTO Leaders Tackle Regional Security, Nuclear Energy, and Afghan Border Concerns

Astana hosted a summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), gathering heads of member states to discuss pressing regional and international issues. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev chaired the session of the CSTO Collective Security Council. Attendees included Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, and CSTO Secretary-General Imangali Tasmagambetov. In his address, President Tokayev highlighted the CSTO’s pivotal role in maintaining peace and stability in Eurasia. “Amid modern challenges, the CSTO consistently demonstrates its relevance as a guarantor of security for all member states. Our coordinated actions, mutual trust, and support strengthen our collective ability to tackle complex and large-scale tasks. The CSTO is not merely a military partnership but a unique mechanism that unites our efforts and resources to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Tokayev stated. CSTO’s Response to Kazakhstan’s 2022 Crisis Tokayev reflected on the CSTO’s rapid deployment in January 2022, when Kazakhstan faced unrest over rising gas prices, which escalated into violent confrontations. Within 24 hours, CSTO forces were deployed to stabilize the situation. Russian troops secured strategic facilities in Almaty, while Kazakh forces restored order, marking a critical demonstration of the organization’s operational capability. Putin Unveils "Oreshnik" Missile System Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed ongoing tensions with Ukraine, signaling the potential use of the Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile system in response to Western-supplied long-range missiles targeting Russian territory. According to Putin, the Oreshnik has the destructive power of nuclear weapons, and can penetrate heavily fortified targets. “The temperature of the striking elements reaches 4,000 degrees. At the explosion's epicenter, everything is reduced to elementary particles, essentially turning to dust,” he explained. Putin also announced that serial production of the missile had begun, with several units ready for deployment. Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Power Project Discussions also turned to Kazakhstan’s plans to build its first nuclear power plant. Tokayev has proposed an international consortium, and Putin expressed Russia's willingness to participate through Rosatom, emphasizing its extensive experience with international collaborations. “Rosatom is ready to work with specialists from other countries,” Putin remarked, leaving the door open for multilateral cooperation. Armenia’s Absence and CSTO’s Future Noticeably absent from the summit was Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, following Armenia’s decision to freeze its CSTO membership earlier this year. Yerevan cited concerns over its sovereignty as the reason for the suspension. Secretary-General Tasmagambetov remained optimistic about Armenia’s return, calling it a valued ally. “This is the decision of an independent and sovereign state, which no country or organization can influence. Nevertheless, we view Armenia as an ally and hope it will return to full participation in the CSTO in the foreseeable future,” Tasmagambetov stated. Key Summit Outcomes During the session, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) also reflected on Kazakhstan's presidency in 2024, highlighting significant milestones achieved under its leadership. President Tokayev reported that approximately 60 activities were conducted within the CSTO's statutory areas of cooperation during Kazakhstan’s presidency. This included advancing coordinated approaches to key international issues in collaboration with member...

International Diplomacy Government Legislation European Union International Cooperation Foreign Policy

Uzbekistan and EU Look to New Areas of Cooperation

On November 5, the government of Uzbekistan and the European Union held the 7th meeting of their Subcommittee for Development Cooperation in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The parties reviewed the EU’s ongoing projects in Uzbekistan and agreed to closer cooperation in transport, critical raw materials, digitalization, and territorial planning. As reported by the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, the parties discussed the progress of the ongoing EU-funded project, “Further Improvement of Public Services Delivery in Uzbekistan,” which has increased Uzbek citizens’ access to public services in rural areas; projects addressing corruption; and budget support and expertise worth 27 million euro for agricultural reforms. The EU and the Uzbek government also addressed potential new areas of cooperation, such as critical raw materials, transport, territorial planning of urban and rural areas, and women’s economic empowerment. As part of the Multi-annual Indicative Program for 2021-2027, the EU will allocate around 43 million euros for new bilateral programs to be launched between 2025 and 2027. An additional 30 million euros will be allocated to regional programs supporting border security, digitalization, including access to the Internet, and national migration policies. The Multi-annual Indicative Programme for 2021-2027 sets the priorities for the EU-Uzbekistan cooperation. The priority areas are effective governance, green and digital growth, and sustainable agri-food sector. In April 2024, the European Commission and Uzbekistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a strategic partnership on critical raw materials (CRMs), which marked a significant step towards a diversified and sustainable supply of CRMs for green and digital transitions in both the EU and Uzbekistan. Rich in copper, molybdenum, and gold, Uzbekistan has the second-largest reserves of CRMs in Central Asia (after Kazakhstan).

Russia Politics Bilateral Cooperation Foreign Affairs Foreign Policy

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Arrives in Astana

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has arrived in Astana to talk with Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu. The visit, which began on the evening of November 6, will last two days. A key meeting topic will be preparations for Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit to Kazakhstan. According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, the parties plan to discuss strategic partnership and alliance, including bilateral and international issues, and cooperation on integration platforms such as the EAEU, CSTO, CIS, and SCO. During the visit, the foreign ministers will sign an action plan on cooperation for 2025-2026. In addition, Lavrov will deliver a lecture at the Diplomatic Institute of the Academy of Public Administration and visit the Holy Dormition Cathedral to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Astana and Alma-Ata Diocese of the Kazakhstan Metropolitan District. Lavrov and Nurtleu last met on September 26 at the UN General Assembly, where they discussed current issues of Russia-Kazakhstan relations, upcoming contacts, and interaction on international platforms. Russia and Kazakhstan have an extensive treaty and legal framework, and the upcoming talks may focus on new interagency documents. In late October, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin's visit to Kazakhstan is being actively prepared and is tentatively scheduled for November 27, according to the protocol of the intergovernmental commission.

Regional Cooperation Foreign Affairs Foreign Policy Global Diplomacy EU

Von der Leyen Affirms EU’s Commitment to Uzbekistan

On November 6, the European-Uzbekistan Economic Cooperation Association opened the European Economic Days 2024 in Tashkent. At the ceremony, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, sent a video message to the event participants expressing her support for Uzbekistan’s efforts to restore its central position on Asian and world trade routes. More than 300 representatives from Uzbek and European governments and business sectors participated. Von der Leyen highlighted three main areas of cooperation between the European Union and Uzbekistan, which have grown significantly in recent years. She began by emphasizing Uzbekistan’s historical role as a “beating heart” of global trade. “For centuries, European merchants traveled to Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva for clothing and ceramics,” she said, recalling the stories these merchants would bring back of Uzbekistan’s palaces, landscapes, and vibrant culture. She noted that Uzbekistan seeks to open to the world once again. Her first example of collaboration focused on trade: “Since 2021, we opened the European market to Uzbek goods, and exports, especially in textiles and metallurgy, have rapidly increased,” she said, adding that there is still vast growth potential. Von der Leyen then turned to investment, mentioning the EU’s Global Gateway program, which supports Uzbekistan’s goal of global connectivity. She highlighted the EU’s investment of up to 10 billion euros, alongside international partners, in the Trans-Caspian Corridor—the shortest, safest route from Europe to East Asia, connecting Central Asia and Europe in less than 15 days. Additionally, she noted efforts to connect Uzbekistan to the EU satellite network to bring advanced digital communications to even the country’s most remote areas. Her final example centered on expanding EU cooperation in Uzbekistan’s strategic sectors. She referenced an agreement signed in April 2024 to bolster supply chains for critical minerals, a project that aims to create jobs and add value locally. “While some global investors focus solely on raw material extraction, that’s not us,” she emphasized, reaffirming Europe’s commitment to supporting domestic industry, job creation, and value-added production in line with high standards. Concluding her speech, Von der Leyen expressed hope that the forum would establish effective cooperation, new business opportunities, and strong relations between Europe and Uzbekistan. She also announced plans for the first-ever “Central Asia—EU” summit in Samarkand next year, marking another step in the region’s evolving relationship with the EU.

Economy Foreign debt International Relations Foreign Affairs Foreign Policy International Finance

Turkey Writes Off All Foreign Debt to Kyrgyzstan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has held talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov during his state visit to Bishkek. It has became known that Turkey has decided to write off Kyrgyzstan's remaining debt, which amounted to $58.9 million. “I express my sincere gratitude to President Erdogan for the decision to write off the debt,” Japarov said at a joint press conference. He also asked the Turkish side to consider customs privileges for Kyrgyz suppliers and to involve Turkish companies in constructing small—and medium-sized hydroelectric power plants in Kyrgyzstan. Erdogan said the talks resulted in the signing of 19 documents on cooperation, including in trade. “We discussed steps to increase trade turnover between our countries from $2 billion to $5 billion. Turkish construction companies have implemented more than 90 projects here with a total value of about $1 billion,” he said. This is not the first time Turkey has forgiven Kyrgyzstan's debt. In 2011 Ankara wrote off $51m of the country's foreign debt, accrued over the previous 15 years. According to the Kyrgyz Finance Ministry, by August 2024, the country's total foreign debt amounted to $4.6 billion. Erdogan is on a state visit to Kyrgyzstan from November 4-6.