The energy sector in Central Asia (CA) is increasingly influenced by Russia's efforts to strengthen its role in natural gas exports and nuclear energy development. Russia, alongside Turkmenistan, has become a primary supplier of natural gas to Uzbekistan, with exports significantly increasing in 2024. Despite challenges, including sanctions and underperformance in the Chinese market, gas exports remain a key tool for Russia's political influence in the region. In nuclear energy, Russia has been actively involved in building nuclear power plants in Uzbekistan and negotiating with Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to deploy small nuclear reactors. In parallel, regional security dynamics are influenced by the complex geopolitical situation in Afghanistan, where despite the Taliban's return to power in 2021, cooperation between CA states and Afghanistan continues, especially in counterterrorism efforts. The Central Asian states are also diversifying their foreign relations, seeking stronger partnerships with non-regional players such as Turkey, China, and the US. However, Russia's role in regional security is declining due to its focus on the war in Ukraine and the security framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has weakened.
Get quality and up-to-date analysis from NISS in a format convenient for you:
- read us in Telegram
- listen to us on Google Podcast
- watch us on YouTube
Photo: NISS
Analytics in pdf format (Ukr):