US Secretary of State Blinken met with representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The aid should flow into language courses, among other things.
During a visit to Central Asia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised to help countries in the region secure their sovereignty in the face of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In the presence of representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, Blinken assured in Astana on Tuesday that Washington supports their “sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity”.
The US Secretary of State announced additional aid of 25 million dollars (23.6 million euros) for the five countries. In September, the United States had already promised 25 million euros. The money is to be used to create local jobs with the help of language courses and training, among other things.
Unlike Belarus, the Central Asian former Soviet republics did not side with Moscow in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. At the same time, approaching Washington is about being “very careful” so as not to “provoke Russia any further,” said a diplomat from one of the five countries, who wished to remain anonymous.
All five countries abstained from voting on the UN resolution for a Russian troop withdrawal from Ukraine last week. After his visit to Kazakhstan, Blinken wanted to continue to Uzbekistan before flying to India for the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting, which runs from Wednesday to Thursday.
Source: Tagesspiegel