After the weakening of Russian forces as a result of the war in Ukraine, the former post -Soviet republics are boldly looking for alternative economic and political partners. At the previous summit in 2022, Putin was publicly criticized by the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rachmon, who accused Moscow of disregarding the region's countries and disrespect for their independence.
Putin visiting Tajikistan. Expert: “This is a new edition of the” Great Game “”
According to the AFP agency, the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are to meet on Thursday, October 9. As in an interview with AFP announces the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, your region's countries want to strengthen commercial cooperation with Russia during talks, but also “strengthen their positions” and build mutual trust. Moscow counts on the “significant and constructive results” of the peak.
As the French Information Agency notes, despite historical cultural and economic ties, Central Asia countries are more and more diversifying their relations. Millions of citizens are still working in Russia, but more and more often this region opens to cooperation with China, Turkey or the European Union. Beijing strengthens its revenues through the lane and trail initiative, while the EU after the April summit announced an investment package worth $ 14 billion.
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Experts indicate that Russia is trying to minimize the impression of competition with China, but competition for influence in the region is becoming more and more obvious. “This is a new version of” Great Game “”-says in an interview with AFP an analyst from Kyrgyzstan Ilja Łomakin, referring to the nineteenth-century British-Russian competition in Central Asia. “Will Russia be able to maintain its position, and even more to strengthen it, it will just turn out” – he adds.
The agency reminds that during the previous meeting in 2022 Rachmon turned directly to Putin: “Yes, we are small nations, but we have our history and culture. We want us to be respected.” Putin then admitted that “he largely agrees”, calling to focus on “specific actions”.
