U.S.

- Kazakh Relations Policy Recommendations & Strategic Approaches

Memorandum
Date: 07 July 2013 From: William Cody Garton Subject: Kazakhstan: Policy Recommendations & Strategic Approaches Introduction: The United States and Kazakhstan share a vital interest in the continuation and ultimate success of Kazakhstans political and economic transition. Kazakhstans strategic location surrounded by Russia, China, and South Asia, comprise the geopolitical centerpiece of the Eurasian continent. Their location makes them both a buffer and a passageway between the U.S. and Central Asia. Central Asia is thus subject to crosscurrents of political, economic, and military interests and pressures.1 It is the United States goal to oversee this transition for the security of our war fighting efforts, our troops and the defense of the homeland. Key Points: The U.S. must implement policy towards Kazakhstans burgeoning free market, and stabilize it as an engine of growth in the Central Asian region. 2 The U.S. must strategically encourage Kazakhstan through bilateral assistance, to create an opening to the South, to Pakistan and India, opening up naturally developing trade routes. The U.S. must coordinate policy and efforts to work with the European Union to promote open societies, free and fair elections, and securing the flow of oil. This would leverage human rights and electoral reform in the country. The U.S. must implement policy and strategic narrative to continue to support and encourage educational and cultural exchange with Kazakhstan as a means of stimulating mutual understanding, interests, and respect. Overall Assessment: The United States holds a valuable relationship with the Kazakh government, receiving strategic military and intelligence cooperation on several levels of operation. The Kazakh

Rywkin, M. National Committee on American Foreign Policy, (2010). Stability in central asia: Engaging kazakhstan. Retrieved from National Committee on Foreign Policy website: http://www.ncafp.org/articles/05 Kazakhstan 5-05.pdf
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Francois, T. The Journal of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, (2009). For the record: the u.s. - kazakhstan relationship. Retrieved from NCAFP website: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10803920701601103
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government has worked diligently with U.S. leadership, to open up their boarders to assist in the vital creation of supply routes for the Afghan and the Iraq wars. Kazakhstan has made it possible to become closer to the U.S. goal of strategic security through partnership in Central Asia. Together, the U.S. and Kazakhstan government has worked to eradicate and eliminate radical stateless groups. Through this strategic partnership, the U.S. has been able to employ its means of national power to achieve goals and strategic security, while providing security training, economic aide, and mediations for the Kazakh government. The U.S. and Kazakhstan still face extreme challenges going forward, such as, dealing with the global war on terror, economic growth and stability, or the rise of influence from China and Russia. However, the Kazakh government has done an excellent job in balancing the influences of major powers in their country, keeping a strong influence from the Western world, while allowing peaceful trade and partnerships with countries like China and Russia as well. President Obama currently views the relationship with Kazakhstan as one of our nations top strategic priorities.3 It is a key strategic and focal point in energy, human rights, counter terrorism, intelligence and Chinese/Russian relations. It is in the United States best interest to maintain a strong and leading role in our partnership with Kazakhstan, shaped by policies of understanding, mutual respect, and benefit. Though these certain policies and strategic narratives and approaches, the U.S. can maintain its strong alliance with Kazakhstan and its leaders, securing the region for economic development, trade, energy, and national security. By continuing to work together, both countries can continue to eradicate terror, help Kazakhstan work towards democracy, and the U.S. can play a crucial leading role in the development of the Central Asian region.

Francois, T. The Journal of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, (2009). For the record: the u.s. - kazakhstan relationship. Retrieved from NCAFP website: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10803920701601103
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Policy & Strategic Recommendations: In order for the United States to continue to achieve its security and economic goals with the government of Kazakhstan, strategic policies and approaches must be considered and implemented for a successful continuation of the U.S. - Kazakh partnership. The first policy recommended for implementation is in conjunction with the rapid economic growth and success of the Kazakh economy. Kazakhstans economy has grown rapidly over the last decade, and very soon, will share standards of living rates equal to that of Russia. The United States can take advantage of this rapid economic growth, by promoting our own interests and products in Kazakhstan for trading possibilities and achieving key economic influence (especially in the energy sector). The United States must put forth a policy to continue to support Foreign Direct Investment into Kazakhstan at the current rates or more, which already totals about $20 billion a year from the United States.4 The U.S. can also pursue a policy of mutual agreement and understanding, by reconsidering the Kazakhs request to join the World Trade Organization. This could greatly benefit the Kazakh economy, which already makes up 73% of the GDP in all of Central Asia, and can continue to strengthen the foreign and energy relations between themselves and the United States. Though it will be difficult to increase FDI funding levels and still find a way to lower the rising national deficit, policies directed towards FDI will be critical in the future when determining the growth of Kazakhstans economy and their strategic partnership with the U.S. Intelligence, Military, and State departments. From the perspective of Kazakhstan, their leadership wishes to achieve a smooth change of guard policy

U.S. Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. (2009). Background notes on kazakhstan. Retrieved from Office of Website Management & the Bureau of Public Affairs website: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5487.htm
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that allows their free market system to grow and flourish and not falter as their neighbors. 5 Local business owners also express some concerns over unrealistic tax audits, and economic prosperity being favored towards certain groups and interests. This may cause reluctance on behalf of investors to commit further capital into the countries economy, which could stagnate growth and slow down trade and energy development from with inside the country. The rapid development of this region requires the informed attention of the U.S. government and formulation of foreign policy. The second strategic approach the United States must consider, is that of assisting Kazakhstan to open up routes to India, Pakistan, and the Indian Ocean through Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan. This opening would allow trade to develop slowly and naturally in the wake of the collapse of the former Soviet Union, and transgressional commerce between Central and South Asia could then develop.The United States could assist in this effort by providing some FDI aide for development of transportation networks, or serve as a mediating factor between Kazakhstans neighbors,6 to encourage the successful completion of this development. This could help to increase mutual beneficial economic transactions between the U.S. and countries within central Asia. This could also boost Kazakhstan and all of Central Asia economically, enabling more R&D in the energy fields, freeing more of the world form the volatile Middle East, as a primary source for oil and resources. The Kazakh government is in favor of this development, but wishes for the United States to act alongside them with aide or mitigation amongst less stable neighbors. The Kazakh government wishes to stabilize the
Rywkin, M. National Committee on American Foreign Policy, (2010). Stability in central asia: Engaging kazakhstan. Retrieved from National Committee on Foreign Policy website: http://www.ncafp.org/articles/05 Kazakhstan 5-05.pdf
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Karaban, E. (2012, May 01). Kazakhstan: New country partnership strategy 2012-2017 launched, world bank group continues strong partnership with kazakhstan . Retrieved from http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/2012/05/01/kazakhstan-countrypartnership-strategy-2012-2017
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Central Asian region as a whole, securing more economic freedom through trade with its neighbors. This would create a more modernized and developed Central Asia, promoting free market values, and assisting in the security of Kazakhstan and the interests of the United States. The third policy and approach for the United States to implement in its relations with Kazakhstan, is a policy that encourages coordinating efforts with its partners within the European Union. The U.S. should pursue a strategy to work with the E.U. to promote open societies, free and fair elections, and humanitarian goals in the Central Asian region.7 Working with the E.U. will prevent the inference that the U.S. is acting upon preoccupations and plans though American Foreign Policy, to achieve U.S. dominance and securing the flow of oil. By coordinating with other E.U. countries, this could increase the leverage the U.S. and its allies have on human rights issues and electoral reform from within the Kazakh government. This would also allow the U.S. to help the Kazakh government to return to its chair position within the OSCE. By working with the E.U., the U.S. can show that it is working with its own allies and other Central Asian nations to ensure the growth, stability and future developments of the region, not just imperial interests of oil and economic control. If the United States can win over the understanding of the Kazakh people and their government based on aide development and mutual security, the U.S. - Kazakh partnership will flourish and benefit both nations tremendously, especially as oil resources become more sought after and globally necessary for survival. The final policy recommended towards U.S. - Kazakh relations, is one based upon mutual respect, understanding, and goodwill. The U.S. should take a step forward by encouraging student exchange between the U.S. and Kazakhstan. With the Kazakhstan governments

Rywkin, M. National Committee on American Foreign Policy, (2010). Stability in central asia: Engaging kazakhstan. Retrieved from National Committee on Foreign Policy website: http://www.ncafp.org/articles/05 Kazahkstan 5-05.pdf
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increased support for student exchange, the U.S. should make the ability to obtain and process visas more efficient and effective, while also making the ability to accept Kazakh students at U.S. Universities a readily available opportunity.8 The U.S. believes it is beneficial for those new and upcoming possible leaders of Central Asia to be educated in the West, sharing cultural exchanges of values and thus, making it easier to work with the future leaders. Desired Results of Policy Implementations: 1.) The United States and its leadership wishes to continue bilateral security agreements (both economically and militarily) with the leaders of the government of Kazakhstan. By the United States implementing a policy of smart-power politics and economic FDI assistance, the U.S. can help continue to grow the Kazakh economy and gain the trust of the Kazakh leadership and people. With U.S. interests in the region being vital to energy and national security needs, the U.S. would like to see Kazakhstans economy become the engine of growth in the Central Asian region. This would allow Kazakhstan to become more engaged by means of trade, with the Southern Caucasus. Kazakhstans ability to lead the economies of other countries within their region, will allow them to have a major stabilizing effect in the region as a whole. This partnership will be key to defending against terror threats, resource shortages, and tough developments with powerful neighbors such as Russia and China. 2.) The United States would like to see the creation of a naturally developed trade route between Kazakhstan and that of India, Pakistan and the Indian Ocean. The U.S. would like to provide some economic development assistance, but primarily serve as an advisor and mitigator between the affected neighbors. Through this opening of free trade, the U.S. believe its interests

CSIS. (2010, July 11). U.s.-kazakhstan osce task force . Retrieved from http://csis.org/program/us-kazakhstan-osce-task-force

will be served by allowing mutually beneficial transactions to occur all throughout the region, and a possibility for peacekeeping and stability to arise. With a more secure and safe Central Asian region, comes a more developed Central Asia. Through modernization and improvements in security, the United States can ensure its continuation of trade and oil flow, while maintaining peace and order with its strategic intel and support partner, Kazakhstan. 3.) The United States would like to work with its partners within the European Union, to support its effort in the Central Asian region and within Kazakhstan. By working with other E.U. nations, the U.S. can avoid portraying itself as imperialistically motivated, but rather motivated on the basis of respect and principle. If the U.S. can continue to work with the Kazakh government and its people, while gaining their trust, the partnership will flourish. By working with other EU partners, the U.S. can promote democratic values, spread humanitarian respect, and work bilaterally to combat regional and international security issues. With a strong partnership against stateless terror, both countries can be more secure and peace minded, which allows for economies to flourish, standards to rise, and allies to develop worldwide. 4.) The U.S. would like to continue to promote efforts of general respect and goodwill, by increasing the efforts on behalf of U.S. institutions of higher learning, to admit Kazakh students to American Universities. By partnering with the Kazakh government to educate their next generation of leaders, it will be easier for the United States to work on the basis of promoting Western values and cultural exchange, fostered by this relationship. Through mutual respect, understanding and gain, the U.S. - Kazakh partnership will grow and develop, making the U.S. influence in Central Asia prosper and become a vital source of defense and security for years to come.

Works Cited: Rywkin, M. National Committee on American Foreign Policy, (2010). Stability in central asia: Engaging kazakhstan. Retrieved from National Committee on Foreign Policy website: http://www.ncafp.org/articles/05 Kazakhstan 5-05.pdf Francois, T. The Journal of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, (2009). For the record: the u.s. - kazakhstan relationship. Retrieved from NCAFP website: http:// www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10803920701601103 Karaban, E. (2012, May 01). Kazakhstan: New country partnership strategy 2012-2017 launched, world bank group continues strong partnership with kazakhstan . Retrieved from http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/2012/05/01/kazakhstan-country-partnershipstrategy-2012-2017 U.S. Department of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. (2009). Background notes on kazakhstan. Retrieved from Office of Website Management & the Bureau of Public Affairs website: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5487.htm CSIS. (2010, July 11). U.s.-kazakhstan osce task force . Retrieved from http://csis.org/program/ us-kazakhstan-osce-task-force Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan , (2012). The embassy hosts american university students (121). Retrieved from Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan website: http:// www.kazakhembus.com/article/the-embassy-hosts-american-university-students