In recent years, Central Asia has become an important element of Russia’s strategy in the context of so-called “nuclear diplomacy.” With this strategy, the Kremlin promotes not only economic interests in the energy sector, but also political influence in the region. The involvement of Central Asian countries in Russian nuclear projects is worrying, as it contributes to the strengthening of the region’s dependence on Russia and increases its geopolitical influence. This was reported by Eurasianet.
Russia has historically been a leader in nuclear energy, and many former Soviet states continue to cooperate with it in this area. Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan are no exception. In recent years, Russia has been actively developing cooperation with these countries in the construction and maintenance of nuclear facilities. For example, Kazakhstan, which has the world’s largest uranium reserves, has long been a key partner of Russia in the field of nuclear energy. The nuclear sector in the country is developing with the direct participation of Rosatom, and this creates conditions for Kazakhstan’s long-term dependence on Russia. Moscow uses this influence to advance its political interests in the region, maintaining friendly relations with local elites and increasing its economic presence.
Such cooperation, despite its economic benefits, also carries serious risks. First of all, this concerns political dependence. By developing nuclear projects with Russia, the Central Asian countries are effectively transferring a vital part of their energy infrastructure to the Kremlin’s control. This gives Russia additional leverage over the internal affairs of the states in the region, limiting their political independence.
In addition, the Central Asian countries do not have enough specialists and technology to fully control nuclear facilities. This forces them to rely on Russia’s assistance in ensuring the safety and operation of nuclear power plants. In the event of political conflicts or a deterioration in relations with Moscow, this could become a serious problem for the region’s security.
Experts also express concern that Russia could use its nuclear diplomacy to spread political influence in Central Asia. Already, Moscow is offering countries like Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan participation in the construction of new nuclear power plants, which creates long-term commitments and further increases political dependence on Russia.
Nuclear Energy and Double Standards
While Russia promotes its nuclear energy as a “clean” energy source, critics point to problems with waste and safety. In addition, Russia maintains double standards when promoting its nuclear technology in countries it controls politically and economically, while in international politics it continues to engage in an aggressive foreign policy that causes concern around the world.
An example of such aggression is Russia’s policy towards Ukraine, which the Kremlin continues to accuse of “threats” in order to justify its actions. Despite these aggressive steps, Russia still advances its nuclear projects and nuclear cooperation, which undermines international norms and contributes to increased instability in the region.
The countries of Central Asia, despite their economic and political difficulties, for the most part continue to support Russia’s nuclear diplomacy. The problem is that the leaders of these countries see Russia as a reliable partner with whom they can cooperate in the energy sector without fear of direct interference in their political life. However, with each new nuclear project, the countries of the region find themselves increasingly drawn into a web of dependence on the Kremlin. In particular, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan demonstrate a desire to develop nuclear energy with Russia, despite criticism from the international community. Turkmenistan, which is known for its authoritarian regime and restrictions on freedoms, actively promotes cooperation with Russia in the energy sector, which allows the authorities to maintain political stability within the country, but at the same time deprives them of the opportunity to develop independent policies. Ultimately, Russia’s “nuclear diplomacy” in Central Asia is not only economic cooperation, but also a way for the Kremlin to maintain its influence in the region. By involving countries in the region in long-term nuclear projects, Russia strengthens its position and creates additional leverage over local elites. This puts the countries of Central Asia in a difficult position when they are forced to choose between economic benefits and maintaining political independence.
