EU pledges €12 billion aid to Central Asia

On April 4, 2025, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, leaders from the European Union met with the heads of five Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, for a summit focused on enhancing trade and partnerships. The European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen led the EU delegation, asserting the importance of forging stronger ties with the resource-rich region. This meeting was particularly significant as it marked the first gathering of its kind since the onset of geopolitical tensions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The summit provided a platform for discussions aimed at deepening trade relationships and expanding cooperation in various sectors, including transport, critical raw materials, energy, and digital connectivity. According to Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, trade between Central Asia and EU countries has exponentially grown, now standing at approximately €54 billion (around $60 billion), reflecting the region's escalating economic importance. During her address, Ursula von der Leyen expressed the EU's commitment to establishing a mutually beneficial partnership that goes beyond expectations, indicating a shift toward a more strategic alignment with Central Asian nations. One of the key announcements was the pledge of €12 billion in aid by the EU, earmarked for infrastructure projects under the Global Gateway initiative, which serves as Europe's answer to China's influential New Silk Roads strategy. This financial commitment highlights the EU's efforts to position itself as a viable alternative to China's and Russia's engagement in Central Asia, an area increasingly seen as a critical geopolitical landscape. Overall, this summit represents a pivotal moment in EU-Central Asia relations, with leaders expressing a shared vision for future cooperation that prioritizes economic development and strategic partnerships. Both sides acknowledged that the summit could be a catalyst for further promoting sustainable relations and mitigating the influence of external powers in the region, thereby setting the groundwork for a