Kazakhstan, a former Soviet Republic much courted by Europeans

by time news

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The President of Kazakhstan began, yesterday, Tuesday, November 29, a 48-hour official visit to France. To relaunch the partnership signed in 2008 between the two countries. A balancing act in the current context of the Russian war in Ukraine.

Kazakhstan is wedged by geography between China and Russia. It shares its longest border with the former Soviet big brother. A tutelary power which consistently ensures the security of the strong man in power. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev recently re-elected with 80% of the vote. Last January, the Kremlin sent reinforcements when anti-government riots erupted over rising fuel prices. Dependency is also economic. Even if Russia only represents 10% of the foreign trade of this Central Asian Republic, it remains an essential way to access western markets. Despite his subordinate ties, President Tokayev took care to keep his distance from Ukraine, refusing to openly take Moscow’s side.

This war reinforces the thirst for autonomy of the former Soviet republic

President Tokayev is increasing contacts with neighboring China, with Turkey and with the whole of the European Union to counterbalance his historical relationship with the Russian neighbour. A neighbor who still needs to be spared. The Kazakh president made a stopover in Moscow before coming to Paris. Kazakhstan is a long-standing partner of France. To supply its nuclear fleet with fuel, Paris has always maintained its relationship with the world’s leading producer of uranium. France is also ready to offer its services for the construction of a nuclear power plant. An agreement should be signed today for a solar power plant, this time in southern Kazakhstan. It will also discuss the locomotive factory that Alstom wants to develop in the Kazakh capital, Astana.

The urgency of the moment for France as for the other members of the European Union: the hydrocarbon file

Hydrocarbons which abound in the country. 10% of the oil imported by France comes from Kazakhstan. And like most of the oil exported by the Central Asian Republic, this oil travels via a pipeline crossing Russian territory to the Black Sea. This essential “energy highway” for the Kazakhs has been closed twice since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, by decision of a Russian court. Exports suffered. Customers, like the supplier, therefore seek to secure the routing. Why not with a new pipe avoiding Russian territory and passing, for example, through the Caspian Sea? The idea is not new, but it faces categorical opposition from the Kremlin. The other preferred option will be discussed during this visit. It consists of consolidating the Trans-Caspian international transport route, nicknamed the central corridor. This route by rail, road and sea connects China to the West via Kazakhstan in record time, but it will still take a lot of investment to make it a real alternative. For lack of sufficient capacity, for the moment only 5% of goods use this route.

The other wealth of Kazakhstan that interests Paris: its mineral deposits

And especially in rare metals. On the sidelines of COP27, the European Commission signed a strategic partnership with Kazakhstan on the supply of rare metals and green hydrogen. Europe wants to secure its supplies of the materials essential to achieve the energy transition and Kazakhstan says it is ready to supply the thirty critical minerals listed by Brussels in the future, it already produces sixteen and has deposits for five others.

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