popular articles

President Macron strengthens strategic partnership with Kazakhstan

French President Emmanuel Macron calls for a stronger "strategic partnership" with Kazakhstan, underlining the strength of the relationship with this Central Asian nation.
Macron au Kazakhstan

Please share:

During his visit to Kazakhstan, French President Emmanuel Macron called for a strengthening of the “strategic partnership” between France and Kazakhstan. The visit comes against a backdrop of power struggles in Central Asia, and Mr. Macron stressed the importance of this relationship with resource-rich Kazakhstan.

Speech in Astana

In his speech in Astana, the Kazakh capital, President Macron hailed Kazakhstan’s “refusal” to bow to pressure from certain major powers and become a vassal. He stressed that France regards Kazakhstan with respect and friendship, at a time when Russia’s traditional influence in Central Asia is being challenged by China, the European Union and Turkey.

Importance of the median corridor

Emmanuel Macron also spoke of the importance of developing a “median corridor across the Caspian Sea” to link Europe and Central Asia, offering an alternative to Chinese and Russian logistics routes in this landlocked region.

French Economic Delegation

In addition to political discussions, the visit was marked by the presence of a large French business delegation, including the CEOs of EDF, Suez and Orano. Several contracts have been signed in the strategic minerals, pharmaceutical, energy, industrial and cultural sectors. In addition, the supply of GM 400 military radars manufactured by Thalès was announced, reinforcing Kazakhstan’s sovereignty.

France as an investor

France is the fifth-largest foreign investor in Kazakhstan, largely due to the presence of the TotalEnergies oil group, which jointly operates a major Kachagan field in the Caspian Sea. Bilateral trade reached 5.3 billion euros in 2022, mainly in hydrocarbons. What’s more, Kazakhstan supplies almost 40% of the uranium used in France.

Critical metals and economic openness

Critical metals, essential to the energy transition and of which the region is rich, also figure prominently in discussions with Uzbekistan, which is one of France’s main suppliers of uranium. Uranium specialist Orano, which already operates a mine in Kazakhstan, is also looking to expand its presence, as Kazakhstan alone produces 43% of total output, according to the World Nuclear Association. Central Asia, long a Russian pre-square, is being ardently courted by the major powers at a time when Russia is preoccupied with its military offensive in Ukraine.

In this game of influences, neighboring China, with its major infrastructure project of the “New Silk Roads”, has taken a head start. But Europe and Turkey are also advancing their positions, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be in Astana on Friday. Buoyed by this enthusiasm, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are banking on economic openness and balanced diplomacy to assert themselves, even if Moscow remains an essential partner.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that Kazakhstan was a “sovereign country developing its diplomatic relations as it sees fit”. Despite their economic openness, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan remain authoritarian regimes where the repression of demonstrations is often violent, despite a declared desire for political liberalization.

Register free of charge for uninterrupted access.

Publicite

Recently published in

Syria signs $7bn energy deal with foreign partners

Syria has signed a $7bn agreement with a consortium of companies from Qatar, Turkey and the United States to rebuild its national power sector.
Friedrich Merz confirmed that Germany would block any attempt to relaunch the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, despite internal calls suggesting a potential reopening of dialogue with Moscow.
Friedrich Merz confirmed that Germany would block any attempt to relaunch the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, despite internal calls suggesting a potential reopening of dialogue with Moscow.
A memorandum of understanding formalises energy cooperation between the European Union and the Latin American Energy Organization, including permanent EU participation in the organisation’s governance bodies.
A memorandum of understanding formalises energy cooperation between the European Union and the Latin American Energy Organization, including permanent EU participation in the organisation’s governance bodies.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that Hungary would oppose the EU's plan to ban Russian energy deliveries by 2027, both legally and politically.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that Hungary would oppose the EU's plan to ban Russian energy deliveries by 2027, both legally and politically.

A German conservative leader calls for reopening the Nord Stream 2 file

Michael Kretschmer, Minister-President of Saxony, proposed restarting dialogue with Russia on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, despite clear opposition from the German government to any reactivation of the project.
Donald Trump is calling on the United Kingdom to abandon wind energy in favor of revitalizing offshore oil extraction, sparking debate over the economic and political implications of such an energy strategy after their recent trade agreement.
Donald Trump is calling on the United Kingdom to abandon wind energy in favor of revitalizing offshore oil extraction, sparking debate over the economic and political implications of such an energy strategy after their recent trade agreement.
China and Egypt concluded over 30 energy-focused agreements, including electric vehicles, smart grids and storage technologies.
China and Egypt concluded over 30 energy-focused agreements, including electric vehicles, smart grids and storage technologies.
Facing Russian dominance in the Akkuyu nuclear project, Turkey accelerates international negotiations, aiming to mitigate risks related to energy dependency and potential strategic conflicts of interest.
Facing Russian dominance in the Akkuyu nuclear project, Turkey accelerates international negotiations, aiming to mitigate risks related to energy dependency and potential strategic conflicts of interest.

European Union sanctions 189 new Russian tankers used clandestinely

The European Union has expanded its measures against Russia by targeting nearly 200 new vessels illegally transporting oil, as part of its 17th sanctions package.
Faced with domestic industrial overcapacity, China is stepping up its international renewable energy investments, aiming to dominate global value chains while opening new markets for its companies.
Faced with domestic industrial overcapacity, China is stepping up its international renewable energy investments, aiming to dominate global value chains while opening new markets for its companies.
Brussels aims to persuade the G7 to reduce the Russian oil price cap to $50 per barrel, as part of negotiations on the next sanctions package targeting Moscow’s energy revenues.
Brussels aims to persuade the G7 to reduce the Russian oil price cap to $50 per barrel, as part of negotiations on the next sanctions package targeting Moscow’s energy revenues.
After three years of separation post-Brexit, the United Kingdom and the European Union have announced their intention to examine conditions for the UK's reintegration into the European electricity market, aiming to optimize cross-border exchanges.
After three years of separation post-Brexit, the United Kingdom and the European Union have announced their intention to examine conditions for the UK's reintegration into the European electricity market, aiming to optimize cross-border exchanges.

Morocco and the UAE seal a strategic agreement on energy and water

A structural partnership includes HVDC lines, natural gas power plants and desalination facilities, financed by a consortium including TAQA and Nareva.
The BRICS denounce economic sanctions and trade restrictions imposed by Western countries, warning of their consequences on global energy markets, especially regarding supply chains and financial stability in the energy sector.
The BRICS denounce economic sanctions and trade restrictions imposed by Western countries, warning of their consequences on global energy markets, especially regarding supply chains and financial stability in the energy sector.
In Kenya, China is consolidating its dominant position in the energy sector through massive exports of clean technologies and major infrastructure contracts, as Nairobi accelerates its energy and industrial targets for 2030.
In Kenya, China is consolidating its dominant position in the energy sector through massive exports of clean technologies and major infrastructure contracts, as Nairobi accelerates its energy and industrial targets for 2030.
Iranian officials met in Istanbul with the European trio to discuss the nuclear programme, as Washington threatens new sanctions in case of deadlock.
Iranian officials met in Istanbul with the European trio to discuss the nuclear programme, as Washington threatens new sanctions in case of deadlock.

The European Union strengthens maritime sanctions on Russian oil exports

The European Union has approved a new package of sanctions targeting 345 vessels suspected of helping Russia circumvent restrictions on crude oil and refined product exports.
Faced with the heavy debts of emerging countries, China is shifting its strategy in Africa, reducing massive loans in favour of targeted commercial investments as Western competition intensifies around clean energy technologies.
Faced with the heavy debts of emerging countries, China is shifting its strategy in Africa, reducing massive loans in favour of targeted commercial investments as Western competition intensifies around clean energy technologies.
Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy, confirms that the EU will continue its ban on Russian gas imports, regardless of the outcome of peace negotiations in Ukraine, with legislative proposals expected in June.
Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy, confirms that the EU will continue its ban on Russian gas imports, regardless of the outcome of peace negotiations in Ukraine, with legislative proposals expected in June.
On May 13, energy ministers from Baltic Sea countries signed a new memorandum of understanding to reinforce interconnections and energy security amid growing geopolitical tensions.
On May 13, energy ministers from Baltic Sea countries signed a new memorandum of understanding to reinforce interconnections and energy security amid growing geopolitical tensions.

Trump aims for $1 trillion investment pact with Riyadh despite tensions

The US president begins a state visit to Saudi Arabia focused on an ambitious economic partnership, sidelining Saudi-Israeli normalisation due to the Gaza war.
An agreement covering the exploitation of 57 types of natural resources is set for ratification by the Ukrainian Parliament, establishing a bilateral fund with Washington with no explicit military guarantees.
An agreement covering the exploitation of 57 types of natural resources is set for ratification by the Ukrainian Parliament, establishing a bilateral fund with Washington with no explicit military guarantees.
Russia positions itself as an active supporter of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, advocating for a balanced legal framework in line with international law.
Russia positions itself as an active supporter of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, advocating for a balanced legal framework in line with international law.
The French president hosts Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov in Paris to finalise economic agreements amid geopolitical rivalries over Central Asian gas resources.
The French president hosts Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov in Paris to finalise economic agreements amid geopolitical rivalries over Central Asian gas resources.

Advertising