Despite countries like France, Germany, and Italy refusing to participate in the new council, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, on the contrary, submitted applications and signed its charter. In response to questions about Kazakhstan's investments in the project, officials from the country commented that the amount of $1 billion is not mandatory but voluntary.
Kaktus.media gathered expert opinions regarding the reasons why Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan agreed to participate, as well as the possible consequences for Central Asia and the situation in the Middle East.
Arkady Dubnov
Political scientist Arkady Dubnov noted in an interview with the Kazakh publication Atameken Business that Trump's interest in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan is linked to their rich natural resources. He expressed the opinion that these countries are essentially returning to "Soviet times," but now under Trump's management.According to him, Trump's proposal is something that is hard to refuse, although some countries, such as France and the UK, have already spoken out against it. "Kazakhstan, while being a significant country, still remains a middle power in a complex international situation and must seek its place on the new world stage," Dubnov emphasized.
He also noted that Tokayev, the president of Kazakhstan, has become a favorite of Trump, which was confirmed during their meeting in Davos on January 22, when they had a brief conversation."Tokayev reminded Trump of the decision made within 365 days of his presidency to invite Kazakhstan to the Abraham Accords. Trump, according to Tokayev, received this positively," the expert noted. He added that this creates additional opportunities for Kazakhstan in maintaining stability in the post-Soviet space.
However, Dubnov pointed out the risks associated with Kazakhstan's membership in the "Council of Peace." "Although it is initially assumed that the council will deal with issues in the Gaza Strip, there is a threat that Kazakhstan may lose part of its image. If Trump decides to take action against Iran, Kazakhstan, as a neighbor, will find itself under pressure," he warned.
The expert emphasized that Kazakhstan's participation in such a council could have negative consequences.He added that the legitimacy of the "Council of Peace" may be in question without the participation of major countries like China and the UK. Nevertheless, if the situation in Gaza improves, this could convince the international community of the effectiveness of the new structure.
Kalnur Ormushev
Analyst Kalnur Ormushev noted that Trump created the "Council of Peace" with the aim of resolving the conflict in the Gaza Strip and is calling on countries to contribute $1 billion for stabilization and reconstruction in conflict regions.In his opinion, the "Council of Peace" could become an alternative to the UN and influence peacekeeping operations. "The council includes serious participants, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, and its functions may extend beyond issues related to Gaza," Ormushev noted.
He added that by creating a new structure, Trump is trying to make it more effective and creative than the UN. However, according to Ormushev, it is unclear how successful this project will be.
The invitation to only Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan may be explained by the fact that Kazakhstan has large resource reserves and a high GDP, while Uzbekistan has the largest population and a developing economy, making them attractive for participation in the "Council of Peace."
The analyst also pointed out the shortcomings of the president of Turkmenistan, who, in his opinion, is not comparable to the experienced leaders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.As for the presidents of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, Ormushev noted that Trump may believe they can be invited later when the political situation in these countries is more stable. He also highlighted the close relationships of these countries with China and Russia.
In conclusion, Ormushev noted that there is no official confirmation of Putin's participation in the "Council of Peace," but his statement about the possibility of funding reconstruction activities in the Middle East could be a signal of Russia's readiness to support Trump's initiative.
"Putin, considering the international conditions, is responding constructively to Trump's initiative, while other NATO countries have refused to support it. This makes Trump think about who he should really collaborate with," the analyst summarized.
