Kazakhstan and EU Address Common Security Concerns

On November 14, the European Union Delegation to Kazakhstan, the Embassy of the Netherlands, and the Kazakh government convened a roundtable in Astana to address critical transnational threats impacting both the EU and Kazakhstan. The event gathered more than 70 experts, government officials, and international representatives to discuss pressing issues such as terrorism, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and other security concerns. Particular attention was given to the interconnected nature of international extremism, border protection, critical infrastructure, drug trafficking, and arms trafficking. Participants underscored the growing level of cooperation between the EU and Kazakhstan, exchanging insights and experiences to enhance joint responses to these multifaceted threats. Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Roman Vassilenko, emphasized that transnational threats disregard borders and national sovereignty, posing a global challenge. “No country is immune from such issues as cyberattacks, organized crime, terrorism, trafficking in persons, or illegal migration,” he stated. Vassilenko noted that Astana has ratified all 19 UN universal counter-terrorism conventions and protocols, demonstrating its active engagement with the international community, including the EU. EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan Aleska Simkic hailed the roundtable as a significant milestone in security collaboration. “Today’s global security threats are neither confined by borders nor limited to single regions; they affect us all, underscoring the need for a united and coordinated response. The European Union and Kazakhstan are bound by shared interests and mutual challenges—whether addressing extremism, human trafficking, or organized crime. This roundtable offers an essential platform for exchanging insights and best practices, strengthening our common security and resilience, and creating better coordination between actions that both sides are already implementing. By working together, we build not only a safer Central Asia and Europe but also contribute to broader regional stability and peace,” Simkic said. Dutch Ambassador to Kazakhstan Nico Schermers echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of collaboration. “Only by working together and learning from each other’s perspectives and insights can we tackle transnational threats affecting the European Union and Kazakhstan,” he remarked. The roundtable concluded with both the EU and Kazakhstan reaffirming their commitment to combat terrorism, trafficking, and organized crime, paving the way for deeper and more effective cooperation in the future.

Update: Russian Defence Minister Speaks about Threats to Central Asia

Speaking at a Defence Ministry meeting on February 27th, the Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu spoke of threats coming from Afghanistan extremists and Western NGO's. The Russian minister prioritized “ensuring military security in the Central Asian strategic area,” and warned that the situation in the region remains complex, with the greatest threat coming from the territory of Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, Shoigu claimed that over the past year alone, the number of ISIS militants in Afghanistan had increased by 15%. He explained that their key objectives were to spread radical ideology and to conduct subversive activities on the southern borders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO); the Russian-led security alliance which includes Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The Russian defense minister stated that Russia’s Central Military District would concentrate its efforts this year on resolving crisis situations in the countries of the region and participate in seven exercises in the territories of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. With drug production and trafficking from Afghanistan through the Central Asian republics expected to rise by 20%, this would be a primary crises of the CSTO to be address. Last week, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian announced that his country has frozen its membership in the CSTO. Shoigu also stated that over 100 large pro-Western non-governmental organizations with more than 16,000 representative offices and branches are currently operating in the Central Asia. "Against the backdrop of the special military operation [of Russia against Ukraine]", he said that "these NGOs have significantly increased their anti-Russian activities in order to reduce the military-technical, economic and cultural cooperation of the Central Asian states with the Russian Federation.” The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Roman Vassilenko, responded with strong support for the civil sector and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Kazakhstan. He emphasized, "Support for the civil sector and NGOs is a top priority for the president, the government, and the Ministry of Culture and Information, which is responsible for this area." Vassilenko further highlighted that there are 18,000 NGOs in Kazakhstan operating in accordance with national legislation, constituting a crucial part of the country's society. In response to statements from Russia regarding proactive measures against NGOs in Central Asia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan stated that it is not aware of any such measures being taken by Russia.