Kazakhstan and the U.S.: Expanding Cooperation for the Future

The months of October and November have witnessed an intensification of Kazakh–American relations. These weeks saw a high-level visit to Astana by Sergio Gor, the U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, and Christopher Landau, the First Deputy Secretary of State, as well as the most recent visit of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the United States. Kazakhstan remains Washington’s most important partner in the region.

Today, Central Asia has become a field of competition between the United States and China—both investing heavily, as Europe does—thus contributing to the growing prosperity of the region. Moreover, the U.S. is one of Kazakhstan’s largest economic partners, particularly in terms of investment in the oil and gas sector, with cumulative investments reaching $100 billion, representing roughly 80% of all investment in Central Asia. Since 1993, U.S. direct investment in Kazakhstan has totaled approximately $61.2 billion, about 13% of total foreign investment in the country. Over the past five years, bilateral trade has doubled to $4.2 billion, reflecting steady growth in economic cooperation, according to Qazinform. Ahead of the Central Asia–U.S. Summit, President Tokayev held a one-on-one meeting with President Trump.

1. High-Level U.S. Visit to Kazakhstan by Sergio Gor and Christopher Landau

On October 29, U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor and First Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau visited Astana to strengthen strategic ties with Kazakhstan ahead of the C5+1 Summit.

The high-level delegation met with President Tokayev and Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov to discuss economic cooperation, regional security, and opportunities for trade and investment.

Both sides explored prospects for expanding collaboration in energy, digital technology, agriculture, transport, logistics, and water management. According to Caspian News, Kazakh government ministers presented detailed reports outlining potential areas of cooperation.

2. Increase in U.S. Investments and Partnership with Kazakhstan

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to creating favorable conditions for investors. The country is working to improve its business climate by simplifying administrative procedures, enhancing investor protection, and leveraging institutions such as the Investment Headquarters to resolve investor concerns.

Recent initiatives include the creation of a “green corridor” to streamline investment projects, a “prosecutorial filter” to prevent arbitrary inspections, and the establishment of a Council for Attracting Investments—all aimed at boosting transparency and increasing foreign direct investment.

In the financial and investment sphere, the National Investment Corporation of the National Bank of Kazakhstan signed agreements worth nearly $1 billion with Brookfield Asset Management, Cerberus Capital Management, and Ashmore Investment Advisors to support infrastructure, private equity, and debt market development. The National Bank of Kazakhstan and Visa Inc. also agreed to strengthen cooperation in digital payments, cybersecurity, and SME support through the creation of a national competence center, according to Inbusiness.kz (November 7, 2025).

3. Regional Cooperation

“Since the beginning of the ‘New Great Game’, several external powers have sought to exert influence in Central Asia—a region rich in hydrocarbons and of major geopolitical importance. The United States stands out as one of the strongest players. It has forged close relations with Kazakhstan, one of the leading states in Central Asia in terms of hydrocarbon wealth, raw materials, and democratic reforms,” wrote F. Kukeyeva (2006).

Kazakhstan is thus one of the key partners of the United States in the region. “Kazakhstan and the United States also share an interest in establishing pipelines for the transport of Kazakh energy resources that bypass Russian territory. The proposed Trans-Caspian Oil Pipeline, connecting to the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline, illustrates this. Kazakhstan needs Western expertise in energy development, and major multinational companies—many based in the United States—are eager to provide it,” noted S. Spehr (2019).

Regional cooperation between Kazakhstan and the U.S. continues to deepen through the C5+1 diplomatic platform, which fosters economic partnerships in critical minerals, technology, and infrastructure.

The Middle Corridor has gained increasing importance, particularly following the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. President Tokayev expressed Kazakhstan’s support for President Trump’s peace initiatives, including the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), aimed at promoting connectivity and prosperity across Eurasia.

At the latest Central Asia–U.S. Summit, held at the White House, Tokayev thanked Trump for hosting this historic event and described the summit as marking a new era in U.S.–Central Asia cooperation. He emphasized that the potential for economic collaboration between the U.S. and Kazakhstan—in energy, critical minerals, industry, transport, finance, artificial intelligence, and education—exceeds half a trillion dollars.

4. Economic Cooperation

Just days before the summit between the leaders of the United States and the five Central Asian nations, President Tokayev secured $17 billion in new U.S. deals. The Kazakh delegation held a series of high-level meetings with U.S. political and business leaders, resulting in 30 bilateral agreements worth approximately $17 billion. These covered key sectors such as industry, energy, digitalization, education, and innovation, marking a new phase in the strategic partnership.

5. Cooperation in Transport

Both parties discussed new initiatives in transit and transport, aimed at improving regional connectivity and supply chain efficiency. Energy modernization and advanced technologies were also identified as priorities.

According to Qazinform, Kazakhstan will receive 300 American freight locomotives under a $4.2 billion deal. Cooperation in aviation is also advancing: Air Astana and Boeing signed a Letter of Intent for the purchase of 18 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.

Additionally, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) and Citibank signed a Mandate Agreement to secure $1.6 billion in financing over ten years for the renewal of KTZ’s locomotive fleet. Thus, U.S.–Kazakh cooperation in transport now includes modernizing rail infrastructure and advancing air connectivity.

6. Cooperation in Agriculture

During his recent visit to the United States, President Tokayev also strengthened cooperation in agriculture. In Washington, he met Csaba Lejko, President for CIS and Central Asia at John Deere. Since May 2025, over 290 John Deere machines have been assembled in Kazakhstan, with another 100 units expected by the end of the year.

A new $2.5 billion Strategic Partnership Agreement will provide for the production of 3,000 machines over the next five years, the establishment of three service centers, and training programs at AgromashHolding KZ, according to Qazinform.

7. Cooperation in Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence

Digital transformation and AI have been identified as strategic priorities for future collaboration. The Alem.AI International Center for Artificial Intelligence in Kazakhstan, which partners with Apple and Google, has become a regional innovation hub, according to Caspian News.

To reinforce academic and technological cooperation, Kazakhstan recently opened the Silk Road Innovation Center in California, designed to promote collaboration between Kazakh and American universities and tech firms.

A tripartite meeting between the Kazakh Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, Beeline Kazakhstan, and Starlink led to a Memorandum of Understanding to introduce Direct-to-Cell technology during Tokayev’s U.S. visit, according to Qazinform.

The visit also generated opportunities in smart transport and clean technology. Kazakhstan signed memoranda worth about $300 million with BETA Technologies and Joby Aero Inc. to develop electric aviation, air taxis, and intelligent mobility systems.

8. Cooperation in Critical Raw Materials

Kazakhstan and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Critical Minerals Cooperation, signed by Minister Yersayin Nagaspayev and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, according to Mining.com.

Kazakhstan possesses vast reserves of uranium (world’s largest producer), chromium (second largest), and rare earth elements. The country is strategically developing its mining sector to attract foreign investment—particularly in battery minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, as well as tungsten and tantalum.

Over the past five years, Kazakhstan has attracted around $1 billion in private investment into this sector. As with the European Union, the United States is showing a strong interest in securing access to critical raw materials essential for the energy transition and clean technology.

Both the U.S. and EU are expected to become increasingly dependent on imports of rare earth metals for low-carbon energy production.

9. Cooperation in Education and Science

Education has emerged as another pillar of cooperation. Agreements totaling $50 million were signed with Arizona State University, Colorado School of Mines, Coursera, OpenAI, and others to promote dual-degree programs, digital learning tools, and academic exchanges, according to Inbusiness.kz (November 7, 2025).

The Ministry of Science and Higher Education also signed a roadmap with the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to modernize Kazakhstan’s national testing system using AI and adaptive learning technologies.

These initiatives reflect growing mutual trust and a long-term vision of partnership centered on innovation, education, and sustainable growth.

10. Military Cooperation

According to the Marshall Center, U.S. policy in Kazakhstan is one of the strongest examples of successful defense cooperation with a non-NATO country.

Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and the ongoing threat of extremism make continued U.S. engagement in Central Asia strategically necessary. It is also worth recalling that during the war in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan was among the closest partners of the U.S. and NATO in maintaining regional stability.

Conclusion

Central Asia has become more central than ever to U.S. diplomacy.

Kazakhstan stands as a key partner for the United States—thanks to its geopolitical position, abundant natural resources, multi-vector foreign policy, and role in promoting regional stability.

According to the Atlantic Council (November 8, 2025), Kazakhstan is also set to join the Abraham Accords, a U.S.-brokered diplomatic initiative launched in 2020 to normalize relations between Israel and several Muslim-majority states. This move will bring Kazakhstan even closer to the United States.

As the world’s largest uranium producer and a major source of tungsten, copper, and rare earths, Kazakhstan helps the U.S. diversify its supply chains and reduce dependence on China and Russia for strategic materials.

Finally, cooperation continues to expand in healthcare and industry—notably through a $150 million project by Samruk-Kazyna and Ashmore Investment Advisors to create Kazakhstan’s first Western-branded multidisciplinary medical clinic.

Together, these developments highlight a new era of partnership built on shared economic interests, technological innovation, and a common vision for regional and global stability.

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