Kazakhstan: EU Helps Us Confront Moscow, Beijing

Astana is grateful to the West for reducing its dependence on Russia and China.

Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vasilenko believes that strengthening ties with the West helps Central Asian countries defend their independence in a region historically dominated by Russia and China.

He expressed this opinion in a commentary for Politico.

Vasilenko noted the involvement of the United States and the European Union in building "much stronger relations" with Central Asian countries, and that they have "generally recognised the importance" of Kazakhstan and other countries in the region.

"(This. - Ed.) helps strengthen the credibility of Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan in relations with all other partners in the world," he said.

At the same time, the Kazakhstani diplomat emphasised that "we will continue where we are geographically, we will continue to develop relations with Russia, with China, as an independent country".

Kazakhstan is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, a military alliance led by Russia. However, since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it has pursued a more independent foreign policy, in particular selling oil to the EU to replace Russian supplies.