Kazakhstan has shown interest in BRICS but hasn’t decided to join. In response, Russia has banned agricultural imports from Kazakhstan, citing safety concerns.
Russia’s Reason for the Ban
Russia has restricted the import of certain agricultural products, including fresh flowers. Russian officials claim this is due to the discovery of western flower thrips, a harmful pest. Rosselkhoznadzor, Russia’s agricultural safety agency, said Kazakhstan re-exports flowers from the Netherlands, Poland and Belgium. These countries, it claims, do not have adequate safety checks. The agency said the pest could cause over 11.5 billion rubles (€110 billion) in damage.
Pressure on Kazakhstan
Experts see the ban as part of Russia’s growing pressure on Kazakhstan. Kuat Dombai, director of the C+5 Centre for Central Asian Studies, noted that Russia has blocked Kazakh oil exports before. Over 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil is exported through Russia’s Novorossiysk seaport. Russia has used technical issues to stop oil shipments during tense times.
Sanctions and Kazakhstan’s Challenge
Kazakhstan is in a tough position. It must balance relations with Russia while respecting sanctions related to the Ukraine war. Kazakhstan and Russia share a 7,500-kilometer border and are both part of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). This makes it difficult for Kazakhstan to avoid economic ties with Russia. Dombai said that while Kazakhstan tries to follow sanctions, it’s not easy due to these ties.
The Impact of Russia’s War in Ukraine
The war has strained Kazakhstan’s relationship with Russia. Kazakhstan has faced economic issues due to disrupted trade routes. It also worries about possible future territorial disputes. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan and Ukraine signed the Budapest Memorandum. This gave them security guarantees in exchange for giving up nuclear weapons.
Russia: BRICS Isn’t Anti-Western
Russia wants to show BRICS is still important despite sanctions and the war. The Kremlin says more than 30 countries have applied to join BRICS, though the list remains undisclosed. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insists BRICS is not anti-Western and doesn’t require members to make sacrifices. Lavrov says that Kazakhstan could benefit from working with BRICS, even without joining right away.
Kazakhstan’s Careful Approach
As Russia applies pressure, Kazakhstan is still weighing its options. The BRICS summit highlights the changing relationship between these two countries as Kazakhstan considers its next move.
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