The EU wants to establish ties with Kazakhstan to stop it from helping russia circumvent sanctions
To isolate russia, the EU intends to improve relations with its "friends"
The European Union plans to offer Kazakhstan measures to expand mutual ties in order to deprive russia of a key partner that helps it circumvent sanctions.
Source. Politico writes about this with reference to a confidential plan of EU officials, which diplomats plan to discuss at a meeting in Luxembourg on April 24.
The document contains detailed plans for the development of EU relations with countries that russia considers "friendly" – Kazakhstan, Brazil, Chile and Nigeria. In order to isolate russia, the EU intends to improve relations with these countries.
The document pays special attention to Kazakhstan, which is a member of the CSTO military bloc created by the kremlin and is a major channel for parallel imports of goods to russia.
Among the advantages that the EU can offer Kazakhstan is the ability to supply oil without transit through russia, as well as to send visiting officials to Astana. In addition, Kazakhstan is seeking a visa-free regime with the EU for its citizens and public support from the EU for its reform program, the document says.
In turn, Astana hopes to "remain a reliable mediator between the East and the West," European officials said.
In early April, the Kazakh authorities promised to comply with European sanctions against russia.
"Kazakhstan will not be a tool to circumvent the sanctions against russia by the US and the EU. We will comply with the sanctions," Timur Suleymenov, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Kazakh Presidential Administration, told Euractiv.
The other three countries with which the EU intends to develop ties – Brazil, Chile and Nigeria – also represent a potential support for the bloc. For example, Brazil and Chile are located in resource-rich Latin America, and Nigeria is the economic center of West Africa.
In addition to trade relations, the EU will make individual proposals to these countries in such areas as energy, economic development, security, and migration.
A senior European diplomat told Politico that the EU authorities are planning a "huge reorientation" of how the union conducts its foreign policy.
Background. Kazakhstan is reportedly introducing a system of tracking the movement of goods to avoid circumventing sanctions.
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