Russia and Kazakhstan share common history and geography. At least during Soviet times, both Soviet republics and close-bordering neighbors with Russian language and culture, operated within the framework of Soviet political system and centralized administration. But that time has changed, Russia and Kazakhstan respect their political sovereignty and independence.
Despite the post-Soviet economic directions, political and cultural differences, both still forge knitted cooperation in regional organizations such the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, during his first post-election meeting Russia’s Vladimir Putin signed a declaration noting the special importance of deepening bilateral and multilateral relations. The declaration coincided on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Astana.
That Moscow and Astana will not accept any attempts to falsify, rewrite and “denigrate” the common history of the two countries, which is the most important cornerstone for allied relations. The parties are also committed to carefully preserving the historical truth about the Second World War, specifically the decisive role of the multinational people of the Soviet Union in the defeat of Nazi Germany.
It notes that both countries intend to improve the Collective Security Treaty crisis response mechanisms, as well as mechanisms to combat international terrorism, illegal production and trafficking of illegal drugs and its precursors, organized crime and other modern cross-border challenges and threats, develop the CSTO peacekeeping forces, and help expand the range of partnerships within the organization.
“On the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Collective Security Treaty and the 20th anniversary of the creation of the CSTO, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan, recognizing the key role of the CSTO in ensuring regional security and stability, confirm their focus on the joint build-up of the organization’s potential,” the document says.
Russia and Kazakhstan are facilitating and taking steps to strengthen the bilateral and multilateral cooperation. “Considering the development of cooperation within the CIS among their foreign policy priorities, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan will continue active interaction to strengthen integration processes in the CIS space,” the document reads.
The declaration notes that Russia and Kazakhstan attach special importance to the deepening of multilateral economic relations, especially within the EAEU. The two states point out that now the integration in the EAEU is developing against the background of new global scientific, technological, socio-economic and geo-economic challenges.
“The Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan confirm their commitment to the principles enshrined in the Declaration on further development of integration processes within the Eurasian Economic Union of December 6, 2018, and consider it important to implement agreements in the areas defined by the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union as well as the further improvement of the functioning and disclosure of the EAEU potential,” the declaration said.
Both Russia and Kazakhstan further “intend to develop bilateral cooperation in the field of biological security.” In general, the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan are joining forces to counter the threats of international terrorism, nationalism and neo-Nazism, illegal migration and human trafficking, and global information security. “The Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan exchange information and cooperate closely in identifying and suppressing channels for financing these illegal activities,” the document said.
According to the declaration, the parties are taking practical measures aimed at mutually supporting initiatives and importantly for strengthening economic relations. Russia and Kazakhstan are interested in a more fair, balanced and transparent international trade and monetary system reflecting realities of the multi-polar world and free from unilateral restrictive measures, economic pressure and coercion.
“Despite the challenging geopolitical situation and things far from being simple in the international market situation, our trade turnover gained more than 10% in January – October of this year as compared to the same period of 2021 and totaled [over] $22 bln, which is a record high figure. If this trend continues until the year-end, I am confident we will achieve new record-breaking figures by the volume of interaction in our mutual trade,” Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin said at the meeting with Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Russia and Kazakhstan are accelerating existing joint projects in machine-building, nuclear power industry, agriculture and digital development, Prime Minister Mishustin said, referring to bilateral economic relations.
“The Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan stand for de-politicizing of the activity of multilateral economic organizations that are not politically driven, for purposes of supporting the quickest and efficient response to current challenges in the sphere of international trade and economic relations,” the signed document reads.
“Today’s visit is of particular importance: this is Kassym-Jomart’s first visit after being re-elected as president of Kazakhstan, and it is of a symbolic significance, for it underscores the special nature of our relations,” President Vladimir Putin said earlier, beginning talks with his Kazakh counterpart in the Kremlin, and that was followed by signing documents. “We highly appreciate that,” he assured.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev won presidential re-election in November. Indeed, it was his first foreign visit to Moscow, which has a profound political significance and also symbolic in the context of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Kazakhstan. “Today, we are signing a declaration dedicated to this historic date. Russia has always been and is Kazakhstan’s key strategic partner, a state with which we have the most close relations in various spheres,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.
The local Russian media, Nezavisimaya Gazeta in its report highlighted the strategic partnership and allied relations between Moscow and Astana. According to the report, Moscow would primarily seek to intensify cooperation with Astana both on the bilateral level and within the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union.
However, some of the steps that Moscow had taken in a bid to keep Astana in check eventually boomeranged against Russia’s interests. The Kazakh leadership promptly handed down instructions to find ways to redirect the flow of Kazakh hydrocarbons to other routes bypassing Russia. Still, Kazakhstan does not deliberately seek to raise tensions with the Kremlin.
Given the chaotic situation across Eurasia, CIS partners are looking for ways to dodge the West’s secondary sanctions while establishing cooperation with Russia. It [report] further suggested that Moscow should search for common ground because if Kazakhstan’s alienation from Russia goes on to involve institutions, it may lead to unpredictable consequences.
Neverthless, there are still some differences and contradictions between Moscow and Astana. President Tokayev has kept his distance from Moscow amid the conflict in Ukraine, notably declining in summer to recognize the Kremlin’s declaration of separatist Ukraine regions as sovereign states. He also has sought to reduce the influence of his Russia-friendly authoritarian predecessor Nursultan Nazarbayev, who ruled for three decades. Nazarbayev resigned in 2019, but had retained significant clout as head of the national security council until Tokayev removed him from the post this year.
On the other hand, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has chosen multi-vector policies. Kazakhstan opens its doors for a broader external expansion. Given its geographical location and combined with current political reforms aim at transforming the its economic from the Soviet system to a more modernized system infused with western culture of life.
Kazakhstan desires to acquire a new image and content. It, long ago, wanted to rid itself of stagnation phenomena, make an effort towards the modernization of Kazakhstan by dynamically engaging in some reforms which enjoy support from the international community.
More reforms continue to be implemented after the elections. President Tokayev has consistently advocated for more openness, economic diversification and improving necessary conditions for attracting foreign business and investors to participate in the various economic sectors, including the cultural and educational sectors.
On 6 March 2020, the Concept of the Foreign Policy of Kazakhstan for 2020–2030 was announced. The document outlines the following main points:
- An open, predictable and consistent foreign policy of the country, which is progressive in nature and maintains its endurance by continuing the course of the First President – the country at a new stage of development;
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Protection of human rights, development of humanitarian diplomacy and environmental protection;
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Promotion of the country’s economic interests in the international arena, including the implementation of state policy to attract investment;
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Maintaining international peace and security;
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Development of regional and multilateral diplomacy, which primarily involves strengthening mutually beneficial ties with key partners – Russia, China, the United States, Central Asian states and the EU countries, as well as through multilateral structures – the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and a few others.
Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked country, located in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It declared independence on 16 December 1991, thus becoming the last Soviet republic to declare political independence. Nursultan Nazarbayev became the country’s first President. Records show that he was replaced by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
It was the last Soviet republic to declare independence after Soviet’s collapse in 1991. With approximately 20 million population, Kazakhstan strictly recognizes its political freedom, national interest and territorial sovereignty, and is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
