Why are Central Asia's natural ties to Russia and China disappointing for the US and the West?
Author: Talib Aliyev, analyst (Moscow)
The natural proximity of the countries of Central Asia to Russia and China haunts the United States and the West. It has gotten to the point where they are even demanding that these countries destroy their relations with these two great neighboring powers, contrary to their legitimate interests.
The West does not hide the fact that if the countries of Central Asia want to be with the US and Europe, or with the so-called "civilized world", they should break off relations with Moscow and Beijing.
At the end of April, Brian Nelson and Liz Rosenberg, employees of the US Department of the Treasury Sanctions Department, visited Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. These officials specialize in combating “violations” of the sanctions regime imposed by Washington on Russia.
The US Treasury made no secret of the fact that the purpose of the visit was to induce the Central Asian republics to completely break off trade and economic contacts with Russia, and then withdraw from allied relations with Moscow with the denunciation of the entire complex of interstate agreements.
Brian Nilson had previously been to Europe and demanded that European companies stop their activities in Russia. He in Astana, and Liz Rosenberg, in the company of a British official in Bishkek, openly threatened to stop the transfer of sanctioned goods (for example, chips used in drones) to Russia, otherwise, they would fall under sanctions again.
Before that, the newly appointed US Ambassador Manuel Micaller gathered journalists in Dushanbe and said that Russia was bypassing Western and American sanctions through the countries of Central Asia, therefore, there is a possibility of imposing sanctions against Tajikistan. According to the Tajik site "Asia Plus", this was the first meeting of the US Ambassador to Tajikistan with journalists, at which he invited the government of Tajikistan and the businessmen of this country to familiarize themselves with the list of sanctions, which is in the public access. In a word, the ambassador of sanctions. He said: “Russia has all the levers of influence on the countries of Central Asia. But we must let these countries choose their own path.”
Apparently, Washington made it clear that Russia's key allies in the Central Asian region were actually presented with an ultimatum, and by "choice" they mean not a choice, but a choice only in favor of the United States and the West. This is an example of the “democracy of threats” that the US authorities and their allies have used and continue to use around the world for many years.
The United States is openly threatening economic isolation to Russia's partner countries in the EAEU. All this is seasoned with general politically correct phrases about “closer cooperation with the countries of the region”, “exchange of information” and “discussion of current trends in world trade”, but the ultimate goal of Washington is clear – to get the countries of the EAEU to comply with anti-Russian restrictions “at all levels of the supply chain”.
Prior to this, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken visited the countries of Central Asia, in particular Kazakhstan, and promised the five countries that they would all be given a sum of $25 million if they cut off relations with Russia.
Although Blinken was talking about Russia, the China Daily made it clear that he was referring to China as well. Chinese newspaper wrote: “The US diplomat is pressuring the five countries of Central Asia to join the 'anti-Russian' and 'anti-Chinese' club by any means. The ultimate goal is to increase divisions between the countries of the region and neighbors with Russia and China.”
Meanwhile, since the beginning of 2023, there has been a steady increase in trade between Russia and the countries of Central Asia. According to the Eurasian Development Bank, the trade turnover increased by an average of 1.3 times, while it is accompanied by the strengthening of the role of national currencies, in which more than two-thirds of trade and economic transactions are currently carried out.
Thus, Western countries are increasing pressure on the Central Asian republics under the pretext of the need to comply with anti-Russian sanctions, but in reality, they are only trying to impose on them the rules of the game that are beneficial to them. At the same time, the West is not interested in the future of the sovereign economies of the Central Asian countries, organically integrated into the system of trade and economic relations and economic ties with both Russia (more than a century) and China (more than 30 years), and any violation of them will lead to an acute social crisis. throughout the region.
At the same time, it should also be mentioned that the reaction of the countries of Central Asia to the US and Western efforts in April is very clearly seen in the participation of the leaders of the region in the May 9 parade - Victory Day over fascism in Moscow. In addition, China's $50 billion pledge against Blinken's $25 million handout also has a clear message.
Central Asia is naturally linked to Russia, the military giant, and China, the economic giant. All of them are located in the same geography and have common interests in the field of economy and security. Naturally, all the efforts and threats of the US and the West are strengthening these ties day by day. In a word, the US and the West are not in a position to allow themselves such tricks, especially through threats and insignificant handouts, and this is definitely not in their interests.
But what they are doing can have another definition: the US and the West are disappointed with the failure of their plans to divide the countries of the region, and everything they have done over the past 30 years has ended or continues to end in heavy losses for them.
