Despite US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's harsh statements about the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) operation in Kazakhstan, the West is generally in no hurry to intervene in unexpected events in a country that is not of paramount importance to it. Washington and Brussels did not give an unambiguous description of President Kasim-Jomart Tokayev. He was not convicted, but he was not supported. The EU's response to the events in Kazakhstan is essentially limited to a statement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Not words, but actions were taken only by Germany. It has temporarily suspended arms supplies to the country, Russia's Nezavisimaya Gazeta newspaper reported.
Von der Leyen assessed the events in Kazakhstan on Friday, a few days after they began. This in itself speaks to the EU's position. "I am following the situation in Kazakhstan with great concern. Citizens' rights and safety are a priority, I call for an end to violence and restraint. The European Union is ready to help where it can, "said the head of the European Commission at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Significantly, the French leader, whose country is Kazakhstan's main trading partner, said nothing about imposing any sanctions on the current situation. Restrictive measures were taken only by official Berlin. Germany imposes arms embargo on Kazakhstan. It is true that the cost of this ban is not high - only 2.2 million euros. According to last year's report by the International Conversion Center in Bonn (BICC), limited quantities of hunting and sporting rifles, small batches of pistols (purchased by Nursultan Nazarbayev's bodyguards, among others), light helicopters and technical intelligence systems were delivered from Germany to Kazakhstan. The motive behind Berlin, though undisclosed, is understandable. In today's chaotic situation, the weapons supplied can be used either against the protesters or by the protesters themselves.
In general, Europe's reaction to the events in Kazakhstan is rather slow. The United States has become more active. They are dissatisfied with Russia's participation in events under the auspices of the CSTO. Blinken even noted that Moscow does not usually leave the region where aid has been requested, which has angered Russia's foreign ministry. However, Washington clearly does not have a strong desire to really influence the events in Kazakhstan. The same Blinken made it clear that he was expressing a personal opinion. In addition, his moderately negative assessment of the CSTO's actions was not confirmed by a statement from the White House.
"I want to note that in neighboring Kyrgyzstan, where President Sooronbay Jeenbekov lost power in 2020, the Americans have chosen not to intervene. "Central Asia is important to them only in the context of security and to prevent the development of terrorist groups in the region," expert Kiril Semyonov told NG.
In general, the position of the West confirms that it recognizes Kazakhstan as a zone of influence of Russia and China, experts say. But at the same time, a conflict between the two Central Asian allies, fortunately, is not yet planned. Beijing recognizes Moscow's crucial importance in the region, despite the fact that Central Asia is the rear of China and its Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, said the dean of the Faculty of World Politics at Moscow State University. Lomonosov ”Andrei Sidorov.
"The protests in Kazakhstan have internal causes: the authorities have not carried out reforms for a long time in conditions of deep internal contradictions. I don't think it's worth looking for external instigators of the riots. The West is still judging Tokayev, so he does not want to jump to conclusions, especially since the new government in the country is only looking for its place under the sun, "said the NG expert.
Sidorov stressed that Washington and Brussels do not have many ways to put pressure on Kazakhstan. This country is far from the European Union, does not want to and cannot join there, even hypothetically. That is why strong pro-Western sentiments can hardly be expected there, as in Georgia or Ukraine.
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