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Water resources

Kazakhstan and Israel Strengthen Cooperation on Water Resource Management

On November 11, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov and Israel’s Minister of Regional Cooperation David Amsalem signed a memorandum of cooperation to deepen bilateral ties in the field of water resource management. The agreement outlines joint efforts in modernizing Kazakhstan’s water management infrastructure, improving water use efficiency, implementing water-saving and reuse technologies, and exchanging expertise in innovation and technology, particularly in the collection, management, and processing of remote sensing data. The memorandum also covers cooperation in the digitalization of water resource monitoring, flood and drought risk management, scientific and technical collaboration, and specialist training programs. As part of the visit, the ministers held talks with representatives of leading Israeli companies to explore partnerships on introducing water-saving technologies in Kazakh agriculture and training Kazakh specialists at Israeli enterprises. “Israel has extensive experience in water resource management under challenging climatic conditions and offers advanced technologies,” said Minister Nurzhigitov. “We are interested in long-term, mutually beneficial cooperation to modernize Kazakhstan’s water sector across the board, including the digitalization of water metering and distribution, deployment of cutting-edge water-saving systems, use of modern data collection methods, and professional development of our specialists.” Israeli firms have previously expressed interest in participating in the construction and reconstruction of reservoirs in Kazakhstan, and in supplying the country with modern flood forecasting and protection systems. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation plans to build 20 new reservoirs by 2030, with a combined capacity of 2.5 billion cubic meters. The project is expected to reduce the country’s reliance on upstream water sources from Kyrgyzstan and China by 25%, mitigate drought in southern regions, and lower flood risks for 70 rural settlements with a combined population of nearly 140,000. Additionally, irrigation will be expanded to cover another 250,000 hectares of farmland. The ministry also plans to reconstruct 15 existing reservoirs, adding another 1.9 billion cubic meters in water storage capacity.

Gaza Ceasefire

Kazakhstan Maintains Diplomatic Balance Following Gaza Ceasefire

On Monday, the Palestinian group Hamas handed over the final 20 surviving hostages to Israel in a two-stage exchange, reportedly mediated with the involvement of Qatari representatives. By midweek, the outcome of the latest ceasefire attempt between Israel and Hamas may become clearer. On October 13, U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the Knesset in Israel, before traveling to Egypt for a summit. The hostages had been held for more than two years, mirroring the duration of Israel’s military campaign that has reverberated across the region. The two-stage exchange formed part of a broader ceasefire framework backed by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. Washington has framed the deal as a cornerstone of its renewed Middle East peace initiative, which aims to establish a long-term truce and pave the way for gradual reconstruction in Gaza. Trump described the agreement as the "beginning of a new security architecture for the region,” though analysts caution that deep mistrust between the parties could still derail implementation. The ongoing war in the Middle East is impacting Kazakhstan, as it is across Central Asia. Anti-Israeli sentiment has grown in this majority-Muslim country, though the government continues to advocate for a balanced and diplomatic approach. For Astana, maintaining neutrality amid the polarized reactions to the war is not just a matter of diplomacy, but also a matter of regional stability. Kazakhstan’s leadership views itself as a potential bridge between Muslim-majority nations and Western partners, drawing on its history of multivector foreign policy. Officials stress that Astana’s engagement is guided by the principles of dialogue and international law rather than religious or ideological alignment. A Delicate Diplomatic Position Kazakhstan has consistently supported international peacekeeping efforts. On September 30, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev backed Trump's Gaza peace plan, and on October 9, Tokayev welcomed the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages, as announced by his press secretary, Ruslan Zheldibay. Tokayev commended the mediation efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, and acknowledged the contributions of the United States and President Trump in advancing peace negotiations in the region. Kazakhstan recognized the State of Palestine in 1992 and established diplomatic ties. While economic relations remain minimal, the recognition holds symbolic political significance. At the same time, Kazakhstan maintains relatively strong relations with Israel, with a notable volume of bilateral trade. The country's longstanding diplomatic stance emphasizes the principle of “two states for two peoples.” Bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and Israel exceeded $450 million in 2023, driven primarily by exports of Kazakh metals and imports of Israeli technology and agricultural products. Cooperation in water management, healthcare, and defense technologies has continued despite regional instability. Kazakh officials have also emphasized the importance of Israeli investment in innovation and renewable energy sectors. Kazakhstan's diplomatic position has been reiterated consistently. In November 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed that the only sustainable solution to the conflict lies in the creation of two sovereign states. Amid intensified hostilities in October 2023, Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza. At that time, 76...

U.S.-Kazakhstan Relations

Kazakhstan Backs Trump’s Gaza Peace Initiative

Kazakhstan has expressed support for President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Peace Plan aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza. In a statement on X, Presidential Press Secretary Ruslan Zheldibay wrote that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev considers the initiative a “unique opportunity” and “an important step toward resolving the situation in the Middle East, strengthening interstate trust, and establishing lasting and just peace in this region.” By describing the initiative as an “important step” rather than a definitive solution, Kazakhstan leaves room for diplomatic flexibility and avoids alienating partners that hold divergent views on Gaza. At the same time, the public endorsement is a clear gesture of support for the Trump administration’s leadership in addressing the central conflict of the Middle East, marking a notable moment where Astana aligns itself with Washington’s effort to shape the regional peace agenda. [caption id="attachment_36799" align="aligncenter" width="581"] Ruslan Zheldibay, President Tokayev’s press secretary, announced the position in a post on X[/caption] Trump’s Comprehensive Peace Plan, released by the White House on September 29, 2025, ties Gaza’s governance to the broader framework of the Abraham Accords, proposing regional security guarantees, economic reconstruction measures, and expanded Arab participation as part of an effort to extend the accords’ realignment across the Middle East. Trump has repeatedly urged world leaders to expand the Abraham Accords, including appeals to Saudi Arabia, discussions with Israel’s Netanyahu, and even suggesting that Iran could join. At the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) last week, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev pointed to the Abraham Accords as proof that reconciliation is possible in the Middle East. This endorsement is consistent with Tokayev’s broader diplomatic messaging and positions Kazakhstan as the only Central Asian state publicly backing the accords as a pathway to normalization at the UN meeting. Separately, UNGA week also saw Wabtec announce a $4.2 billion order from Kazakhstan’s national railway, a deal in line with Trump’s ‘America First’ policy that underscored the commercial dimension of U.S. engagement. The Gaza statement follows Tokayev’s remarks last week about the United Nations after technical failures during Trump’s UNGA appearance. Tokayev described the incident as “an extremely dangerous incident” and “a most serious shortcoming — one might even say a failure — of the UN Secretariat and the relevant services and departments.” He noted that, “The decision to conduct an investigation has already been made and is correct.” He linked the investigation into the failure to broader questions about the UN’s credibility, echoing Trump’s frustrations with the institution. Alongside these public remarks, Tokayev has made changes to Kazakhstan’s diplomatic team, recalling the ambassador to Washington and appointing a new foreign minister. While the reshuffle followed Tokayev’s return from New York, it also appears to reflect a deliberate recalibration of Kazakhstan’s diplomatic apparatus, with the new team brought in to carry forward these emerging foreign policy priorities. Taken together, these moves highlight Kazakhstan’s shift toward a more visible diplomacy, with Astana’s decisions increasingly aligned with Washington. By endorsing Trump’s Comprehensive Peace Plan, Tokayev has signaled a convergence with the former U.S....

Middle East

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan Condemn Israel for Attack on Hamas in Qatar

Several countries in Central Asia sharply criticized Israel’s airstrike on a Hamas meeting in Qatar on Tuesday, saying it was a violation of sovereignty and international law. “Whatever the objective, such actions must not be allowed,” President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan said. “This violates the sovereignty of the State of Qatar and contradicts the principles of international law.” Uzbekistan´s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a similar statement about the attack, which escalated tensions in the Middle East and threatened to disrupt already fragile talks about a cease-fire in Gaza. The ministry noted that the attack happened in a residential area of the Qatari capital of Doha and described it as “an encroachment upon the inviolability of borders and security” of the Gulf state. “Such actions are unacceptable and represent a serious disregard for the UN Charter, fundamental norms and principles of international law,” the ministry statement said. “Uzbekistan has consistently opposed any form of use of force in international relations that exacerbates the already complex situation in the Middle East.” President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan also condemned the Israeli attacks, according to presidential spokesman Askat Alagozov. Hamas negotiators have a base in Qatar, which has served as a mediator in efforts to reach a cease-fire in Gaza. Israel said the strike in Doha was retaliation for a shooting attack that killed five people in Jerusalem on Monday. Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries have been developing more investment projects with Qatar as they diversify their international trading partners.

Investments

ValueLBH Fund to Invest Up to $1.5 Billion in Kazakhstan’s Economy

Kazakhstan is exploring joint investment projects worth up to $1.5 billion with international investment firm ValueLBH Fund, targeting key sectors of the national economy. Talks were held in Astana between Gabidulla Ospankulov, Chairman of the Investment Committee under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, and Shimon Ben Hamo, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dan Capital and Managing Director and Partner at ValueLBH Fund. The discussions focused on expanding investment cooperation and launching projects in transport and logistics infrastructure, agriculture, raw materials processing, renewable energy, oil refining, and high-tech manufacturing. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two sides examined specific initiatives such as the construction and modernization of logistics hubs linked to international transport corridors, the deployment of advanced technologies in agriculture, the creation of joint ventures in solar and wind energy, and the development of domestic oil refining capacities. Ospankulov stated that Kazakhstan is prepared to offer a comprehensive range of state support measures while ensuring access to global markets. “Partnerships with leading investment funds create valuable opportunities for Kazakhstan to diversify its economy and introduce cutting-edge technologies,” he said. Ben Hamo underscored the country’s strategic location and stable macroeconomic fundamentals, highlighting its potential for integration into global supply chains. The parties agreed to continue consultations and explore the signing of framework agreements. ValueLBH Fund operates across real estate, energy, infrastructure, and agribusiness, with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) recently launched the Eurasian Transport Network Observatory, a database tracking 325 infrastructure projects across 13 countries, representing a combined investment of $234 billion as of July 1, 2025.

Israel-Iran Escalation

Turkmenistan’s Diplomatic Moves Amid Iran-Israel Tensions

One of the elements most highlighted by the recent military confrontation between Israel and the U.S. on one side and Iran on the other is the geographical relevance of Central Asia to the situation. This is particularly true in the case of Turkmenistan, a country that shares a border of almost 1,200 kilometers with Iran. During the most intense days of the conflict, in a particularly unusual move, Turkmenistan opened its borders to foreign citizens seeking to escape from Iranian territory, which was under Israeli air strikes at the time. On the diplomatic front, there have also been several high-level meetings and talks involving Turkmenistan; just after his meeting in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, travelled to Ashgabat for a meeting with his Turkmen counterpart, Rashid Meredov. The day after, Meredov had a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Ashgabat for a meeting with the Turkmen leader, Serdar Berdimuhamedov. Focusing primarily on the mutual isolation of Turkmenistan and Iran, Luca Anceschi, Professor of Eurasian Studies at the University of Glasgow, gave The Times of Central Asia his interpretation of these developments: “In my opinion, there is a fundamental issue, which is Turkmen isolation. When we see a small shift, we think that things are changing, but nothing changes. The second isolation is that of Iran, which in this case is not intentional. The reality we have seen in recent days is that Iran is isolated at the regional level. Russia has made it clear that Iran is expendable, and has not given reassuring answers. We see that there is an attempt to remedy this forced isolation on the part of Iran. To get out of these regional arrangements, they have tried to go everywhere, including Ashgabat.” Operational agreements on the energy side are certainly weighing on Tehran's desire to reassure Turkmenistan about the stability of the theocratic regime that rules Iran. These agreements are particularly useful to Iran in meeting the energy needs of the northern part of the country, which is remote and poorly connected to the south, where the country’s main natural gas fields are located. According to Temur Umarov, a Fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, “Since 2022, Turkmenistan's visibility in Eurasian politics has certainly increased, and this is also the result of geopolitical changes that have taken place in the region in recent years,” Umarov told TCA. “What happened in Iran further increases Ashgabat's visibility, but it was coincidental that Lavrov's visit to Turkmenistan took place during the clash between Israel and Iran, as it was part of a wider tour of the region by the Russian Foreign Minister.” Another aspect that should be considered is the change in tone on the part of Turkmen diplomacy, which at first glance appears much more assertive than in the past. A few weeks ago, Ashgabat issued a very harsh statement regarding Trump's decision to include Turkmenistan among the countries...