EU to Hold First-Ever Summit With Central Asian Countries

The European Union and five Central Asian countries are holding their first-ever high-level summit Thursday and Friday to focus on boosting diplomatic and trade ties.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa traveled to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, today to meet with leaders from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

Goals: The purpose of the summit is to discuss:

• EU investment into Central Asia’s industries and infrastructure
• Cooperation in clean energy, particularly in critical raw materials
• Addressing security challenges, including Ukraine
• Tourism

Diversify: Both the EU and Central Asia see the summit as a chance to expand their trading relations, especially in light of the United States’ recent trade tariffs.

Although this summit is an attempt to diversify, both plan to maintain good relations with existing partners, such as Russia and China.

[I]t’s not about seriously challenging China and Russia, but it’s rather [about] offering some alternatives in some sectors, competing in some sectors, especially on raw materials and on connectivity.
—Dr. Stefan Meister, head of the Center for Order and Governance in Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia at the German Council on Foreign Relations

Central Asian countries try to pursue a so-called multi-vector foreign policy, meaning that they are prepared to cooperate with different players without alienating any of them. They would like to benefit from all sides.
—Dr. Anna Matveeva, senior visiting research fellow at King’s College London

Historic: Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said the summit is a “historic chance” for Central Asia—a partnership with the EU would greatly expand its industrial and customer base.

It is also lucrative for the EU as the Central Asian nations have great reserves of raw and rare earth materials.

Prophecy: The Bible prophesies about a European trading partnership with Asia. Isaiah 23 says this “mart of nations” (verse 3) will be headed by “Chittim” (verse 1), the biblical name for modern-day China. This mart will include many other Asian nations, as well as “Tyre,” referring to modern-day Europe.

As Europe’s trade relations with America become strained, watch closely as the EU turns elsewhere. To understand more about how this was prophesied to happen, read “The Great ‘Mart of Nations.’”