US Ambassador Discusses Bilateral Ties with Kazakhstan at Roundtable in Washington
U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Discusses Bilateral Ties and Regional Dynamics
The Caspian Policy Center, based in Washington, hosted a roundtable on Jan. 4, discussing the bilateral ties between Kazakhstan and the United States and the regional dynamics. Daniel N. Rosenblum, the U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan, participated in the discussion and addressed a variety of issues, including the cooperation with Kazakhstan and the region’s energy sector.
At the roundtable, Ambassador Rosenblum highlighted the United States’ key priorities in its relationship with Kazakhstan – stability and sovereignty. He emphasized that these strategic goals have been consistent since Kazakhstan’s independence in 1991, which the United States was one of the first countries to recognize.
Rosenblum noted that U.S. efforts to help the region maintain stability and sovereignty focus on political and diplomatic engagement, security, economic development, and the human dimension. He mentioned the importance of the C5+1 diplomatic platform as a powerful mechanism to advocate for certain policies internationally.
The U.S. Ambassador also pointed out the significant progress in trade and investment dynamics between the two countries. He mentioned that bilateral trade between the United States and Kazakhstan reached $3 billion in 2022 and that American investments in Kazakhstan reached $5 billion in 2023. Additionally, Rosenblum expressed optimism regarding the development of the Middle Corridor – a key economic priority for both countries.
Furthermore, Ambassador Rosenblum addressed the regional efforts to improve transport connectivity between Europe and Central Asia. He emphasized the need for regional cooperation to harmonize standards and procedures for the movement of goods and mentioned the significant role of international partners, including the United States, in assisting with necessary infrastructure development.
Regarding Western sanctions imposed against Russia, Rosenblum commended Kazakhstan’s efforts to comply with U.S. and international sanctions. He highlighted Kazakhstan’s good record in preventing sanctions evasion and ensuring compliance with all sanctions concerning its domestic companies’ relationships with Russian companies and banks.
Looking ahead, Ambassador Rosenblum sees the United States headed in two directions. He expressed the importance of maintaining engagement with Kazakhstan, including leader-level meetings, while also realizing substantive commitments and growing them into other things. He mentioned the proposed private sector parallel structure, B5+1 meeting, and a critical minerals dialogue as critical commitments to be realized.
In hosting this roundtable, the Caspian Policy Center provided a vital platform for meaningful discussions on the bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and the United States. This event further underscored the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation between the two countries in addressing common interests and regional challenges.
