This comes just two weeks after an unprecedented summit between the heads of five former Soviet republics in Central Asia and China, headed by Xi Jinping, which is consolidating its dominance in this region, which is traditionally under Russian influence.
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, arrived in Kyrgyzstan, as announced by the authorities of this former Soviet republic, to hold the second summit between the European Union and Central Asia, a region over which major powers are fiercely competing against the background of weakening Russia.
The presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and a delegation from Turkmenistan, a remote country, are expected to participate in this summit, which is organized in the city of Cholpon-Ata on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul.
This comes just two weeks after an unprecedented summit between the heads of five former Soviet republics in Central Asia and China, headed by Xi Jinping, which is consolidating its dominance in this region, which is traditionally under Russian influence.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine gave a new impetus to relations between Central Asia and the European Union, while allowing the leaders of Central Asian countries to diversify their partnerships, and they did the same with Iran and Turkey.
The European Union is the largest donor to the region with €1.1 billion in aid between 2014 and 2020. The EU is also the most important investment partner in Central Asia with 42 percent of its total value, far ahead of the United States (14.2 percent) and Russia (6 percent). percent) and China (3.7 percent).
But in recent weeks, the European Union has threatened to impose second sanctions on other countries accused of helping Russia circumvent Western sanctions, including the Central Asian republics.
However, Brussels is trying to mitigate the effects of measures taken against Russia that could indirectly affect the Central Asian republics, so as not to push them further into the arms of Moscow.
Because despite the declared desire of the countries of the region to adopt a multi-directional foreign policy, these countries remain closely linked to Russia, the historically regional power, through stronger military and economic alliances and cultural ties.
It is a role now disputed by China, which gives in particular large loans to finance the “New Silk Roads”, a giant infrastructure project.
Central Asian regimes are still considered authoritarian to varying degrees with NGOs regularly criticizing their human rights situation.
The security situation is still unstable, with the outbreak of bloody battles last year between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and revolutions suppressed by force in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
In addition, the Taliban’s takeover of power in neighboring Afghanistan remains a source of concern for Central Asian countries that remain reluctant to deal with the Taliban government, which is not recognized by any country.
