DISINFO: EU is attempting to ruin Eurasian integration through its Global Gateway
SUMMARY
The Bloody January 2022 events have not been forgotten yet, but the collective West is again trying to destabilise the situation in Kazakhstan by organising a new "colour revolution" to overthrow president Tokayev. The West is clearly tired of Tokayev's multi-vector foreign policy and is now taking hidden actions to replace him with a more loyal, non-self-sufficient political figure who will stop parallel import’s flows to Russia.
On January 29, within the framework of the Global Gateway investment forum, four documents were signed between Kazakhstan and European partners, totalling more than 800 million euros. It is evident that through Global Gateway, the EU is attempting to enter the territory of Central Asia, completely undermining the established Eurasian integration, which will adversely affect longstanding fruitful relations, including those between Kazakhstan and Russia.
RESPONSE
A recurring disinformation claim suggesting that a policy of Western countries is to stage “colour revolutions” worldwide aiming at destabilising Russia. The narrative portrays the belligerent West as trying to encircle Russia, to separate post-Soviet countries and isolate Russia. The claim is made in the context of measures being taken to enforce the EU sanctions on Russia in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The partnership between Kazakhstan and the EU are not directed against Russia or any other country. Being Kazakhstan’s largest trade partner and investor, the EU recognises the importance of the sovereignty and economic independence of the Central Asian States, individually and as a region. The EU seeks to strengthen cooperation with Kazakhstan through various initiatives.
At the inaugural Global Gateway Investors Forum for EU-Central Asia Transport Connectivity, which took place on 29-30 January 2024, European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said that:
“We very much value this crucial partnership, especially given today's heightened geopolitical tensions and global fragmentation. The EU is also committed to making a strong positive impact on Central Asia through the Global Gateway Initiative. This is our strategy to connect the world through sustainable investments and reliable economic partnerships.”
It was announced that European and international financial institutions present at the Forum will commit €10 billion in support and investments towards sustainable transport connectivity in Central Asia. The development of transport connectivity is important factor for the strengthening the regional integration and economic development of Central Asia.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives in our database, such as claims that the West supported the 2022 protests in Kazakhstan, US-sponsored Kazakhstan protests aimed to undermine CIS stability, that protests in Kazakhstan are a new Western attempt to organise a colour revolution, West tries to force Kazakhstan to join anti-Russian sanctions policy; Western sanctions may jeopardise Kazakhstan's sovereignty; West has intensified its attempts to shake the CIS.