By Samuel Ben-Ur Kazakhstan has reached out to the United States in an unprecedented fashion — by improving relations with Israel. Prior to a November summit between the United States and five Central Asia countries, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev approached Washington and reportedly expressed his desire to upgrade ties with Israel by joining the Abraham […]
Read MoreBy Sadokat Jalolova The Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant (HPP), a landmark energy project jointly developed by Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, is gaining international momentum, with strong backing from global financial institutions. Uzbek Minister of Energy Jorabek Mirzamahmudov announced that the plant’s projected construction cost stands at $4.2 billion, while pledged financing has already reached $5.6 billion. […]
Read MoreBy Dr. Robert M. Cutler October 10 was one of the most consequential days for global trade policy and one of the most volatile for world markets since the U.S.–China tariff conflict first reignited. After China announced tighter export controls on rare earths, U.S. President Donald J. Trump first posted on Truth Social that “there […]
Read MoreBy Dmitry Pokidaev Kazakhstan is projected to reach an annual oil production level of 100 million tons in the coming years and sustain that output over the long term, according to Askat Khasenov, Chairman of the Board of the national oil and gas company KazMunayGas (KMG). The Ministry of Energy initially forecast oil production at […]
Read MoreBy Sergey Kwan In September 2025, the research platform Demos.kz conducted a nationwide survey on public perceptions of Kazakhstan’s Armed Forces. When asked about the likelihood of Kazakhstan becoming involved in a military conflict over the next five years, 29.7% of respondents considered the risk very low, 28% rated it as average, 13.2% as rather […]
Read MoreBY Dr. Robert M. Cutler Several days ago I argued here that Kazakhstan’s diplomacy had begun to try to move from survival-mode balancing into a more entrepreneurial phase, testing its accumulated diplomatic capital on the world stage. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s September 24, 2025, speech to the United Nations General Assembly confirms this. It was a […]
Read MoreBy Sergey Kwan Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Power China to strengthen bilateral collaboration in water management. The agreement outlines plans for modernizing hydraulic infrastructure, reconstructing irrigation systems, and enhancing technical capacity through training programs and specialist exchanges. It also includes provisions for digitalization, investment in […]
Read MoreBy Dr. Robert M. Cutler Kazakhstan’s international visibility is reaching a peak this late summer and early autumn of 2025. In August, UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited Astana, praising the country’s role as a stabilizing influence in Central Asia and a supporter of multilateral institutions. In a few days, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will address the […]
Read MoreBy Dauren Moldakhmetov Just a few years ago, internet access on passenger trains in Kazakhstan seemed like an unattainable dream. Today, this service is becoming a reality. In an interview, Anuar Akhmetzhanov, Chairman of the Board of JSC Passenger Transport, told The Times of Central Asia that providing passengers with access to high-speed internet on […]
Read MoreBy Dmitry Pokidaev Kazakhstan’s trade deficit with China reached $1.8 billion in the first half of 2025, a sharp increase compared to $400 million for the whole of 2024. According to the Association of Financiers of Kazakhstan (AFK), the growth in trade turnover was driven almost entirely by rising imports of Chinese goods. A review […]
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