For Germany, countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have long been in the shadow of the major powers Russia and China. But in view of the war against Ukraine, that is changing. Berlin is entering into a partnership with five countries.
Against the backdrop of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Germany wants to deepen its partnership with the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia. Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock met in Berlin for the first time for a summit with the heads of state of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The strategic partnership should focus on the economy and energy, climate and environment, regional cooperation and direct exchange between citizens. To this end, regular consultations should be established.
Energy security and alternative Supply routes
In a joint statement, the heads of state underlined “their goal of strengthening energy security and creating alternative energy supply routes.” This is intended to avoid Russia’s strong dependence on supplies of gas and oil, for example. After a meeting, Chancellor Scholz and the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as well as the Chairman of the People’s Council of Turkmenistan agreed to generally improve transport and transit routes.
The Central Asian governments welcomed the EU initiatives on water, energy and climate change and the EU’s Global Gateway strategy. These are planned as an alternative to the Chinese Silk Road Initiative and are intended to connect the countries more closely to Europe. Scholz assured the five governments that Germany wanted to support these initiatives with state and EU contributions.
Raw material deposits interesting for Germany
The five Central Asian states have a total population of almost 80 million, which is only slightly less than Germany. However, its area is eleven times larger than Germany and roughly corresponds to the area of the entire European Union with its 27 member states. For a long time, from a German perspective, the region was in the shadow of the two major powers China and Russia, on which the interest of the German economy was concentrated.
The raw material deposits in the Central Asian states are particularly interesting for Germany. Kazakhstan, as the region’s strongest economy, is already supplying the refinery in Schwedt, Brandenburg, with oil and compensating for the cut in Russian deliveries. Kazakhstan also has uranium, iron ore, zinc, copper and gold and is considered a potential partner for the production of hydrogen obtained from renewable energies.
Some of the states that have so far been heavily under Russia’s influence are being criticized for serious violations of human rights. Turkmenistan, for example, is considered an isolated dictatorship – similar to North Korea. “Cooperation in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms” was now included in the joint declaration, as was the importance of the rule of law and an independent judiciary.
Criticism comes from Moscow
Russia is not mentioned in the six-page joint statement. However, it emphasizes the “sovereignty and territorial integrity” of all states and the “prohibition of the threat or use of force” as principles of the United Nations Charter – a reference to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.
The Chancellor’s Central Asia offensive is not going down well in Moscow. The Russian Foreign Ministry criticized the fact that the West’s sanctions against Moscow were brought up in the conversation between Scholz and Tokayev. Russia is counting on being able to continue its effective economic cooperation and good-neighborly relations with Kazakhstan without “negative interference” from outside.
Scholz spoke of a special meeting that builds on 30 years of diplomatic relations with the five countries. “And we have agreed that we will meet again in this format,” wrote the Chancellor on the Internet platform X.
On the sidelines of the summit, a declaration of intent was signed for a migration agreement with Kyrgyzstan, which is intended to facilitate the recruitment of skilled workers and the return of people without the right to remain from Germany to Kyrgyzstan. There is already such a declaration of intent with Uzbekistan.