Kazakhstan
Cyprus on the Middle Corridor: Tokayev Recruits a Mediterranean Shipping Hub
A Kazakhstan–Cyprus Business Forum in Astana. An EU–Kazakhstan transport seminar the same day. Both pointed at the same June 23 meeting.

What the EBRD Is Bringing to Riga — and What Central Asia Should Watch
The Bank's 35th Annual Meeting opens Thursday. For the region, three things matter: the new Regional Economic Prospects, the Aktau port investment, and the signal on Trans-Caspian financing.
BTK Goes Full Throttle: Upgraded Baku–Tbilisi–Kars Railway Enters Operation
Capacity jumped from 1 to 5 million tonnes a year. The Middle Corridor's western spine is no longer a bottleneck.

The SCO at 25: A Quarter-Century of Summits, Zero Kilometres of New Railway
The anniversary session in St. Petersburg today will celebrate what the organisation has become. The Central Asian members are more interested in what it might finally build

The Level of the Delegation Is the Message
Central Asia is in St. Petersburg this week — but not equally. What each country’s roster says about where the relationship with Russia actually stands
Kazakhstan Sells 3.4 Billion Yuan in Debut Sovereign Panda Bond
Demand was twice the supply. The Ministry of Finance calls it proof of Chinese investor confidence in Kazakhstani macroeconomics.

Putin Ends Astana Visit with Ukraine Warnings and EAEU Posturing
The Russian president used the Eurasian Economic Forum platform for some of his sharpest public language on Ukraine in months — delivered from Kazakhstan’s capital

Baku–Supsa Pipeline Returns: Kazakhstan Oil Joins the Rerouting
A deal signed during Kobakhidze’s Baku visit on 18 May restores a dormant Caspian export route — and Astana is already looking at it

The Tsar, the Steppe, and the Very Friendly Lunch
What Vladimir Putin’s second state visit to Kazakhstan really said — and what everyone agreed not to say out loud

EAEU Summit Convenes: Armenia in the Room, Pashinyan Not
The Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meets today to discuss, for the first time, a member state's EU trajectory — with the Armenian elections nine days away

Tokayev and China's Zhao Leji Discuss Expanding Partnership — With Middle Corridor in Focus
The call follows Kazakhstan's record $48.7bn trade with China in 2025 and comes as Beijing seeks to deepen its position in Kazakh infrastructure

IAEA Chief: Kazakhstan Is a Key Partner in Nuclear Safety — and in the West's Uranium Strategy
Grossi's Almaty visit underlines Kazatomprom's central role as Western buyers reduce exposure to Russian supply chains

Kazakhstan's National Railway Eyes Triple Listing as Middle Corridor Bet
KTZ plans simultaneous IPO in London, Hong Kong and Astana — framing $10.4bn debt burden as a growth story

Caught in the Net: Central Asia's Sanctions Week
Kyrgyzstan shuts down 50 companies, Kazakhstan sues Rosatom, Georgia's elites move assets offshore — three stories, one pressure front

The Turkic Moment: What Erdogan's Astana Visit Reveals About Kazakhstan's Strategic Choices
Thirteen agreements, a record trade surge, and a new medal — but Ankara and Astana are reading the partnership through different lenses