President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan concluded a two-day visit to Brussels on Wednesday, sealing strategic agreements with the European Union and signing 30 commercial contracts worth approximately €10 billion with European companies. The deals highlight the deepening economic ties between Brussels and Astana, with the EU remaining the Central Asian republic's foremost trade and investment partner.
Strategic Partnership in Critical Raw Materials and Energy
The centrepiece of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on strategic cooperation in critical raw materials. The accord aims to integrate Kazakhstan into the EU's supply chains for lithium, rare earths, and other minerals essential for the green transition. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who met Tokayev at the Berlaymont, described the partnership as a win-win for both sides, noting that Kazakhstan's vast mineral wealth can help Europe reduce its dependence on China.
Separately, Kazakhstan and the EU agreed to expand cooperation on renewable energy, with European firms committing to invest in wind and solar projects in the Kazakh steppe. The deals also include a framework for the development of a trans-Caspian transport corridor, which would link Central Asia to European markets via the Caucasus, bypassing Russia.
Commercial Deals Span Multiple Sectors
The 30 commercial contracts involve companies from Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands, among others. Key sectors include aerospace, agriculture, and digital infrastructure. For instance, Airbus signed a preliminary agreement to supply helicopters for Kazakhstan's emergency services, while French energy giant TotalEnergies expanded its footprint in the country's oil and gas sector.
Tokayev, speaking at a business forum in Brussels, emphasised that Kazakhstan is open for business and committed to diversifying its economy beyond hydrocarbons. He also welcomed European investment in the country's nascent hydrogen industry, which could eventually supply the EU with green hydrogen.
Geopolitical Context and EU Strategy
The visit comes as the EU seeks to strengthen ties with Central Asian states to counterbalance Russian and Chinese influence in the region. Brussels has been pursuing a more assertive engagement strategy, exemplified by the recent von der Leyen to visit Yerevan after Armenia's pro-EU referendum. Kazakhstan, the largest economy in Central Asia, is seen as a key partner in this effort.
Tokayev's government has pursued a multi-vector foreign policy, maintaining close ties with Moscow and Beijing while deepening relations with Europe. The Brussels deals signal that Astana is willing to offer European companies preferential access to its resources, provided the EU reciprocates with technology transfers and investment.
Reactions and Next Steps
European business leaders welcomed the agreements but cautioned that implementation will require regulatory reforms in Kazakhstan. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which co-organised the business forum, pledged to support projects that meet environmental and governance standards.
Tokayev is expected to follow up the visit with a trip to Berlin later this year to finalise specific investment contracts. Meanwhile, the European Commission plans to dispatch a technical mission to Astana to work on the critical raw materials partnership.
The deals also come amid broader European efforts to secure supply chains, as seen in the Brussels sees mass protests over alleged police brutality amid education cuts, though the two stories are unrelated. For Kazakhstan, the Brussels visit marks a tangible step in its pivot towards Europe, even as it navigates the complexities of its geography.
