Energy and Economy

 

Meloni Visits Central Asia, Signs Trade Deals with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan 

Georgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy, visited Central Asia from May 28 to 29. The trip, which included a C5+1 summit with the heads of state of the five Central Asian republics as well as stops in both Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, was the latest in a series of high-level visits by European policy makers aimed at growing trade and energy relationships between Europe and Central Asia. In Kazakhstan, Meloni and Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed trade and energy deals worth over $7 billion while in Uzbekistan Meloni struck agreements worth over $3 billion. Meloni also addressed the Astana International Forum conference.

Source: Euractiv

SOCAR and BP, Exxon Sign New Exploration Deals

On June 2, as part of the Baku Energy conference, the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR), BP, and Exxon Mobile, signed agreements to carry out further oil and gas exploration in Azerbaijan. Per reporting by Reuters, “Exxon Mobil vice president John Ardill said that the company would apply in Azerbaijan its experience in developing unconventional fields, but that it was too early to announce possible volumes.”

Source: Reuters

Chinese Freight Train Makes Inaugural Journey to Iran

A Chinese freight train arrived Aprin, Iran’s largest dry port, after a 15-day journey from Xian. The journey signifies the culmination of a $400 billion economic agreement signed in 2021 between Beijing and Tehran. The railway linking the two countries significantly reduces a 30–45-day journey for freight if transported by sea. 

Source: Tehran Times, RailFreight.com

Air Astana Launches Direct Flights to Tblisi, Baku, and Frankfurt.

Beginning May 27, 31 and June 1, Air Astana launched direct flights from Kazakhstan to Tblisi, Baku and Frankfurt. The new serves will operate three times a week and are aimed to further strengthen Kazakhstan’s economic ties and connectivity with the South Caucasus and Europe. 

Source: Astana Times, Business Traveller

Uzbekistan Considers Visa-Free Entry for Americans

The Uzbek government is developing a framework for a 30-day visa-free arrangement for American tourists. Tashkent hopes that Washington will be willing to adopt a reciprocal policy to reduce travel barriers for Uzbek citizens. 

Source: Eurasianet

Baku Hosts 30^th Energy Week

Azerbaijan’s capital is hosting the 30^th edition of Baku Energy Week in June 2-4, bringing together 267 companies from 39 countries to discuss the future of energy across Eurasia. The event includes the 30^th Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition, the 13^th Caspian International Power and Green Energy Exhibition, and the 30^th Baku Energy Forum. Notably, 35% of this year’s exhibitors are newcomers, underlining increased interest in Azerbaijan’s energy potential.

Source: Vestnik Kavkaza 

Politics and Security 

 

EU Adopts Black Sea Strategy

Speaking on May 28, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s head of foreign policy, premiered the EU’s new strategy for the Black Sea region. The strategy, which Kallas referred to as the Joint Communication on the Black Sea, outlines three key components of a European strategy aimed at maximizing the region’s political and economic potential and containing Russia’s influence and aggression. These components include the establishment of a Black Sea Maritime Security Hub, upgrades of regional ports, railways, roads, and airports to maximize military mobility, and lastly a more concerted effort aimed at combatting Russian hybrid threats.

Source: Diplomatic Service of the European Union 

Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Collapse Amid Rising Tensions

Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia ended abruptly in Istanbul on June 2, lasting only about an hour following a major Ukrainian drone strike on Russian nuclear-capable bombers the previous day. The meeting, held in Ciragan Palace and delayed by two hours, brought both sides together for the first time since 2022 in a direct format, but produced no visible progress. Despite conflicting official statements about the extent of the drone strike’s damage, satellite imagery shows notable losses to Russia’s strategic bomber fleet. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that the United States might withdraw from its mediating role if the negotiations continue to stall.

Source: Reuters

Tokayev Fires Almaty Mayor 

Almaty Mayor Yerbolat Dosayev was fired on May 24 by Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Dosayev, a longstanding political elite within Kazakhstan who has held the mayorship of Kazakhstan’s largest city since 2022, was replaced by First Deputy Presidential Administration Darkhan Satybaldy. 

Source: RTVI