DISINFO: The UK intends to use the tools of colonial soft power in Kazakhstan
SUMMARY
In the National Security Strategy and the Strategic Review of Defence and Security of the UK, one of the most important priorities is the need to strengthen British influence with the help of 'soft power'. That is why, in the struggle for Kazakhstan, London, while creating a counterbalance to the positive influence of Moscow on Astana, is relying mainly on cooperation in the fields of history, culture, and education, including efforts to exclude the Russian language from the local population's speech circulation.
Nevertheless, the envoys of the Foggy Albion still intend to use the tools of colonial 'soft power' guided by an anti-Russian agenda and with the help of NGOs operating in the country.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative, accusing the West of neo-colonial policy and to destabilise post-Soviet countries and isolate Russia.
The statement was made in the context of the UK Foreign Secretary, David Cameron's visit to Kazakhstan and other Central Asian states. Cameron met leaders across the region to deepen cooperation on shared challenges, from counter-terrorism to climate change.
The cooperation is not directed against Russia or any third country. Cameron said that while preserving its ongoing ties and cooperation with Russia and China, Kazakhstan also has "the choice to have a deeper partnership with Britain." “Central Asia is at the epicenter of some of the biggest challenges we face, and it’s vital for the UK and the region that we drive forward its future prosperity,” Cameron stated. More about the UK-Kazakhstan relations can be read here.
The article advances the claim that Central Asia is exclusively within Russia's zone of geopolitical dominance and attempts to discredit any other cooperation with the West.
As we analysed in our recent article In Kazakhstan and Central Asia the Kremlin cries “Russophobia! one of the recurring disinformation claims regarding Central Asia region is that “Russia is being pushed out of the region” and “the West’s true goals” in the region, ostensibly, – to destabilise it'.
Read other similar cases in our database: UK Foreign Secretary Cameron’s visit to Central Asia dedicated to push Russia out of the region; the West increases pressure on CIS to break old ties; The same Western scriptwriters tried to organise coup d'état in Belarus and Kazakhstan; von der Leyen believes that homosexuality is an integral part of the nomadic people's traditions; The main goal of the West is neo-colonial control over the Caucasus and Central Asia.