Russia and China? Or Turks with British: Who Really Influences Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is a young state, an independent republic – only 30 years old.
Photo: Sergey SHAKHIDZHANYAN
Kazakhstan left the Soviet Union as a tasty morsel, which everyone wanted to influence. It is no coincidence that over the past 10 years this republic has received investments for $ 250 billion. Of all the CIS, more – only to Russia. And in Central Asia, Kazakhstan is the undisputed leader.
Whose main interests converged today in Kazakhstan? After all, from the total it is possible to draw a conclusion – who benefits from the country to set fire to, and who – to extinguish and protect the fire in it.
Marat Bashirov, a political scientist and author of the Politjoystick telegram channel, made a breakdown for kp.ru – who and how influences Kazakhstan.
USA
Those whom we call “the West” are very useful in exploiting the bowels of Kazakhstan. There is oil, gas, it accounts for 42% of the world’s uranium production. For this ore, there is direct competition between us and the Americans.
The geopolitical position gives the “owner” a strategic advantage throughout Central Asia. There is a good relief – not many mountains, steppes. This is a convenient territory for controlling the military objectives of the entire region. Until now, there have been no US military bases there. Because it is more convenient than in Kyrgyzstan, where the United States used to have two bases at once.
This is not their main goal now, but the desired one. There is no military action in Afghanistan, and the Americans are still providing interests in Iraq and Syria to Europe and Saudi Arabia.
Europe
Europe needs the subsoil of Kazakhstan and energy. It is no coincidence that it is European companies that invest more in the country than others. Of all the $ 17 billion of investments that came in 2020, $ 5.1 (this is 30.1% of the total) was spent by the British-Dutch Shell.
But there are also companies from Italy, Germany and other European countries.
China
From a trade point of view, China is not very interested in Kazakhstan – a small population (about 20 million people). First of all, they need access to the territory. Transit, during which something is also sold.
It is through Kazakhstan that the New Silk Road goes. This is a land route that will connect China with Europe and will halve the delivery time for goods and passengers.
In addition, Kazakhstan is an outlet to the Caspian Sea. And from there, across the Volga, across European Russia.
We must not forget that China and Kazakhstan also have gas contracts. They are also expensive.
Russia
Russia has invested more in Kazakhstan than in any other republic of the former USSR – $ 11 billion. But our main interest, as you know, is not money, but people. There are almost 3.5 million Russians in Kazakhstan. We cannot abandon them. In addition, almost the entire population of the country.
We must not forget that Kazakhstan borders on our 13 regions – 7.5 thousand kilometers of the border. Which actually does not exist – the steppe. So the issue of security is also important.
Russia and Kazakhstan are together part of the Customs Union. A huge amount of traffic goes through the roads and railways. They are, thank God, controlled.
Also, Kazakhstan buys electricity from Russia.
Turkey
Turkey’s main interest is geopolitics. They even have the “Organization of Turkic States”. Erdogan dreams of creating Great Turan, where Kazakhstan is assigned a very important role.
And with the current protests, Turkey, of course, lost a lot – they seriously invested in the development of relations with Kazakhstan. And not only from a military point of view, but primarily in the creation of a pro-Turkish elite. The fact that Tokayev called for help from the CSTO, and not Turkey, is a very painful blow for Erdogan.
There are many analytical articles in Turkish newspapers, where they argue why they lost the fight for Kazakhstan. Precisely pro-Turkish odious figures. For example, the arrested crime boss Arman Dikiy. And if the revolt had succeeded, if Tokayev had not turned to the CSTO for help, perhaps Turkey would have won the fight for Kazakhstan. If, of course, he would have remained after that in the form in which it exists now.
READ ALSO
Chronicles of the riot in Almaty: Power is back, shops are opening, but there is shooting in the streets
Upon learning that they accept bank cards somewhere, the townspeople rush there in short dashes so as not to come under fire (details)
Key questions and answers about the Collective Peacekeeping Forces in Kazakhstan
Military observer for kp.ru Viktor Baranets – on the work of the Russian peacekeepers (details)
How zhuzes appeared in Kazakhstan, Russians and who built its cities and factories
What really is a former Soviet republic the size of Western and Central Europe (details)
OPINION
And somewhere in Rostov, looking at Tokayev, Yanukovych is sad
“Was it possible?” – he is probably surprised at the lightning-fast salvation of Kazakhstan thanks to his appeal to Russia. It was so necessary! (details)
BROADCAST: Protests in Kazakhstan on January 9, 2022