DISINFO: The West considers Central Asia as a base against Russia and China
SUMMARY
In the current geopolitical situation, it is clear that the liberal part of the Western elites (mainly in the US and the UK) is interested in using the countries of Central Asia as a base for political and military actions against Russia and China. To carry out these provocations, they are using both pro-Western left-liberal groups and religious extremist organisations.
RESPONSE
A mix of pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives claiming that the West is waging a hybrid war against Russia in Central Asia. This narrative fits into the broader disinformation theme about the West’s allegedly belligerent and hostile agenda against Russia, and about its alleged plans to destabilise and encircle it. The article promotes a recurring disinformation narrative about alleged promotion of Russophobia in Central Asia. It is also a part of recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about the European Union and international cooperation as foreign interference through civil society and NGOs.
This claim was made in the context of the intensified EU – Central Asia partnership and is designed to drive a wedge between the EU and Central Asia.
There is no credible evidence to support the claim about foreign interference of any kind by the West in Kazakhstan or any other country or region.
Political, economic, cultural, trade, military, and security partnerships between Kazakhstan and the EU aim to foster mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, not to counter Russia or any other nation. The EU - Central Asia strategy outlines three priority strands for EU engagement: investing in regional cooperation and partnering for resilience and prosperity.
See this fact sheet on EU relations with Central Asia as well as our article In Kazakhstan and Central Asia the Kremlin cries Russophobia.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives in our database, such as claims that the West plans to destabilise Central Asia, US-sponsored Kazakhstan protests aimed to undermine CIS stability, that protests in Kazakhstan are a new Western attempt to organise a colour revolution, that events in Kazakhstan are another Western-made colour revolution or that EU and US aim to generate a new wave of anti-government protests in Belarus.