Energy and Economy

 

Uzbekistan and UAE Set 2030 $50 Billion Investment Target

At a meeting of the Presidents of Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi, the leaders declared that 2025-2027 would be what they termed “A New Era of Economic Partnership.” As part of this initiative, Tashkent and Abu Dhabi will work to increase the mutual trade volumes to $50 billion by the year 2030, a ten-fold increase. The document signed during the meeting additionally stated that “[t]he visit of the leader of Uzbekistan to the UAE opens a new page in the history of bilateral relations – they are reaching the level of strategic partnership.”

Source: Daryo

Uzbekistan-China Business Forum Held in Tashkent

On January 16, the Uzbekistan-China business forum was held in Tashkent. The event was attended by over 400 business representatives from Uzbekistan and China, marking growing economic ties between the two countries. By the end of 2024, Chinese investments in Uzbekistan exceeded $10 billion with total trade turnover reaching $13.1 billion. Further development plans for “New Tashkent” were highlighted at the event, including the construction of a 200MW substation and a 25 mile “underground engineering network” to support the city. 

Source: NewTashkent

Uzbek Government Plans to Improve Middle Corridor Trade

On January 13, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced a five-year plan to enhance commerce through the Middle Corridor. The plan aims to diversify Uzbekistan’s trade routes, lower transportation costs, and improve freight logistics by streamlining customs procedures. Key initiatives include upgrading border crossings at Davut-ota, Gisht Kuprik, and Navoi; expanding truck stop networks; and improving transit times. The decree also focuses on strengthening trade links with Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

Source: Eurasianet

U.S. Treasury Expands Sanctions to Kyrgyzstan Businesses

On January 15, the U.S. Treasury announced a “crackdown” on the growing network between Russia and China, targeting additional Russian businesses. However, in addition to Russian organizations, the U.S. Treasury applied sanctions to the Kyrgyzstan-based OJSC Keremet Bank for aiding Russian officials in sanctions evasion. 

Source: Euromaiden Press

Politics and Security
 

Azerbaijan and Armenia Agree on Border Delimitation

On January 16, the border delimitation commissions of Azerbaijan and Armenia held their 11th meeting at the shared border. The discussions were led by Azerbaijan's Deputy Prime Minister, Shahin Mustafayev, and Armenia's Deputy Prime Minister, Mher Grigoryan. The sides agreed to initiate the process from the northern point where the borders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia intersect, moving southward to the border with Iran. The parties also reviewed draft guidelines outlining the procedures for conducting delimitation work.  They also agreed to determine the date and location of the next meeting between the commissions.

Source: Daily Sabah

Iranian President Pezeshkian Makes Official Visit to Tajikistan

On January 15 and 16, Iran’s President Massed Pezeshkian visited Tajikistan for his first foreign visit of 2025. Throughout two days of various meetings, Pezeshkian and Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon signed 23 cooperation agreements focused on diplomatic, food security, transportation, digital technology, and anti-corruption cooperation. Pezeshkian expressed a desire that Tajikistan and Iran help address issues within the Islamic world, highlighting various problems in Afghanistan and Syria.

Source: EurasiaReview

Secretary of State Nominee Marco Rubio Favors Repealing Jackson-Vanik Amendment

On January 15, U.S. Senator Steve Daines secured policy commitments from Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio to work to repeal the Jackson-Vanik Amendment during a confirmation hearing.  Daines stated that the United States needs to repeal the Jackson-Vanik amendment on Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to normalize trade relations. Daines also suggested the idea of having a U.S.-Central Asia summit under the C5+1 format to strengthen relationships in Central Asia. Repealing the amendment, a holdover from the Soviet era, would require a congressional vote. 

Source: Kazinform

Armenia and United States Sign Strategic Partnership

On January 15, in Washington DC, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan signed a strategic partnership. According to Blinken, the agreement will result in further United States-Armenia joint military drills, which were launched in 2023, as well as an upcoming visit by a U.S. customs and border control team. Kremlin officials criticized the move, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating the United States “has never played a particularly stabilizing role in the South Caucasus; one could even say the opposite.” 

Source: OC Media

Former Georgian Prime Minister Assaulted, Opposition Claims Government Involvement 

On January 15 in Georgia’s Black Sea city of Batumi, former Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, who heads the opposition For Georgia opposition party, was beaten in an attack that a For Georgia spokesman has claimed was politically motivated. The spokesman also claimed the attack involved sitting Georgian Dream politicians. Gakharia was briefly admitted to a hospital due to a broken nose and concussion. Recent months have seen street violence and intimidation directed toward Georgia’s opposition amid mass protests over contested elections and the government’s decision to postpone EU accession talks.

Source: RFE/RL

Russia’s FSB Coordinates Information Attacks on Azerbaijan

In the aftermath of the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane crash near Aktau, Kazakhstan on December 25, Azerbaijani media outlets have increasingly reported a surge in Russian disinformation campaigns targeting Azerbaijan. Preliminary investigations have indicated that the aircraft was downed by a ground-launched anti-aircraft missile system while approaching the city of Grozny. In response, Russian authorities and media outlets have sought to deflect responsibility by issuing repeated statements critical of Azerbaijan. An Azerbaijani media outlet has suggested that these actions may be sanctioned at the highest levels, stating: “Given that any narrative opposing Russia’s interests, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine, is swiftly suppressed, there is reason to suspect that the Kremlin has authorized these provocations against Azerbaijan. It is even plausible that the entire operation is being orchestrated by the Federal Security Service (FSB).”

Source: Aze.media

Russian Espionage Campaign in Kazakhstan

Sekoia, a French cybersecurity company, has released findings highlighting an ongoing Russian cyber espionage campaign against Kazakhstan. The report explained ongoing “spear phishing” attacks on Kazakhstan, sending supposedly official documents. These files originated from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and were sent to various Kazakh departments and international governments, with one document being a draft for a joint statement from Germany, Kazakhstan, and Central Asian leaders. This attack has been ongoing, with the earliest document being an administrative note from 2021 alerting Kazakh officials about cyber espionage attacks.

Source: Sekoia