British Foreign Minister James Cleverly has pledged to assist Kazakhstan in developing alternative export routes that bypass Russia. On a visit to the Central Asian nation, Cleverly said that
London valued Kazakhstan's position on the Ukrainian conflict and appreciated its principled stance on supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity. He also expressed the UK's desire to help resolve the conflict in line with the UN charter.
Kazakhstan has traditionally been closely allied with Russia but has refused to support Russia's invasion or recognize its annexation of Ukrainian territories. The country has the longest land border with Russia of any former Soviet state and called in Russian troops to help put down street demonstrations weeks before Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. Since the invasion, however, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has been careful to keep his distance from Moscow and keep relations open with the West.
During his visit, Cleverly met with Tokayev and a number of other senior officials to discuss the disruptions in Kazakh oil exports, most of which go through Russia. They also discussed ways to support the development of alternative routes such as the Middle Corridor, which crosses the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey. Kazakhstan has already started diverting some crude shipments towards this route, but significant investment is required to boost its capacity.
Cleverly and Kazakh diplomats also signed a memorandum on critical minerals such as rare earth metals, which Kazakhstan has in abundance. The landlocked former Soviet nation of 20 million accounts for almost half of the world's uranium output and has large deposits of rare earth minerals that the West has traditionally sourced from China or Russia. However, no details were provided about the memorandum.
The development of alternative export routes is of great importance to Kazakhstan, as it seeks to reduce its dependence on Russia and diversify its economy. The country's oil exports have been severely disrupted in the past due to disputes with Russia over transit fees and other issues. By developing alternative routes, Kazakhstan can ensure a stable and reliable supply of its oil and other resources to international markets.
In conclusion, Cleverly's visit to Kazakhstan underscores the UK's commitment to strengthening ties with Central Asian nations and supporting their efforts to diversify their economies and reduce their dependence on Russia. By assisting Kazakhstan in developing alternative export routes and signing a memorandum on critical minerals, the UK is helping to promote economic development and stability in the region. Photo by Shalakazakh, Wikimedia commons.