On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken expressed support for Kazakhstan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty during his first visit to the Central Asian country, which is a Russian ally and close to China, days after the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In Astana, he will meet with Blinken, who is also foreign minister of five former Soviet republics in Central Asia, namely Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. He will also meet with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the day before leaving for Uzbekistan.
Blinken’s tour aims to strengthen the role of the United States in this region, which is in the sphere of influence of the powerful neighbor of Russia and the growing influence of China. “As you know, the United States strongly supports the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Kazakhstan,” Blinken told his Kazakh counterpart Mukhtar Teleuberdi.
“At this particular time, these words are heard more than usual,” Blinken added, referring to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, while Kazakhstan shares a 7,500 km border with Russia. This country is very concerned about the rights of the large Russian minority, especially after President Vladimir Putin named the protection of Russian speakers among the reasons for the invasion of Ukraine.
The US has no illusions about the possibility that these five republics will abandon their historical partner Russia, nor the influence of their other powerful neighbor, China, but is playing the “reliable partner” card, as elsewhere in Africa or Latin America.
“We have a lot to offer in terms of economic engagement as well as in terms of values,” said Donald Lu, the senior State Department diplomat in charge of Central Asian affairs.
Anthony Blinken reaffirmed Tuesday that the United States “intends to strengthen” its relationship with Kazakhstan, which, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, has been able to bolster multifaceted diplomacy, according to official terminology, as it forged alliances with various partners despite Moscow’s great influence. .
At the height of the war in Ukraine, the leaders of this country in Central Asia are very cautious in connection with official agreements with Moscow and the economic and military weight of Russia, therefore they have taken a balanced position on the conflict. Five former republics of the Soviet Union abstained or did not participate in a vote Thursday in the UN General Assembly on a bill requiring Russian troops to leave Ukraine.
