Eldaniz Gusseinov
Russia and the European Union are ready to enter a race for influence in Kazakhstan due to the strategic importance of the state.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Russia and the European Union have shown great interest in Kazakhstan. This is noticeable by the number of visits from Russian governors, top public officials, and Putin, as well as by the number of visits from Europe, most notably from the Presidents of Germany and France. Russia and the EU are demonstrating to each other that they are ready to engage in long-term competition in Central Asia, particularly in Kazakhstan. Russia possesses significant military-political influence with growing economic engagement in the region, while the EU has economic advantages over Russia, especially in the areas of trade and investments in Kazakhstan. In striving to maximize their economic presence, the parties may come to an economic conflict with possible political consequences for Kazakhstan.