What’s behind Kazakhstan chairing six international organizations in 2024
In 2024, Kazakhstan is chairing six international organizations. It includes the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) and International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS). In this article, Kazinform News Agency explains Kazakhstan’s priorities in these organizations and what it means for the country’s foreign policy.
SCO
Kazakhstan assumed chairmanship at SCO in July 2023. At the virtual summit, which gathered heads of SCO member states, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev charted the nation’s priorities further on.
The SCO is a regional intergovernmental organization established in 2001 by six founding member states: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The SCO aims to promote cooperation on security, economy, culture, and other areas among its member states.
Currently, the SCO includes nine member states. Besides the founding members, they are India, Iran, and Pakistan.
It also has three observer states - Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia. In 2022, at the Samarkand SCO Summit, the process of raising the status of Belarus within the organization to the level of a member state began.
There are also 14 dialogue partners, including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Türkiye.
Addressing the summit in July 2023, Tokayev said the SCO is a “unique Eurasian organization” with an extensive agenda. The member states account for a quarter of the global GDP and over 15% of world trade, and cover practically half of the world's population.
One of Kazakhstan's key priorities is ensuring security and stability to “prevent a geopolitical rift between East and West.”
As part of its chairmanship, Kazakhstan presented the initiative, dubbed On World Unity for a Just Peace and Harmony. The recent meeting of SCO national coordinators in Beijing in December 2023 agreed upon draft documents scheduled for signing at the SCO Summit in Astana in 2024.
The comprehensive document lays down principles for strengthening trust and maintaining stability, and security. Fighting the so-called ‘three forces of evil’ - transnational organized crime, illegal drug trafficking, and cybercrime - will also remain the focus of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship, according to Tokayev.
Kazakhstan also identified the expansion of trade and economic ties as the second priority, capitalizing on the geographical proximity of the member states, transit and transport capabilities, a vast market, and economic complementarity.
According to the Kazakh Ministry of National Economy, Kazakhstan's mutual trade with SCO countries in 2022 amounted to $60.8 billion, which is 18.7% higher than in 2021. Exports made $29.5 billion, and imports - $31.3 billion.
SCO member states also supported Kazakhstan’s initiative to designate 2024 as the Year of Ecology, announced Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Aibek Smadiyarov at a briefing on January 15.
In October 2023, a corresponding action plan was developed and approved by the council of heads of government of the SCO. The Year of Ecology in the SCO will commence with thematic events in educational institutions. Approximately 20 joint events are planned by environmental organizations, including those dedicated to World Environment Day, World Water Day, International Day for Biological Diversity, and World Forest Day
In February, Almaty also hosted the SCO Digital Forum, which was proposed by Tokayev at the summit in July 2023. There, Acting Minister of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry Bagdat Musin proposed establishing a joint alliance of technoparks among SCO member countries to identify mutually beneficial avenues for digital cooperation and interaction.
This initiative aims to facilitate the implementation of promising, long-term joint projects and foster the development of an innovative ecosystem while offering comprehensive support to startup projects and IT companies.
Turkic world
Experts also emphasize Kazakhstan’s crucial role in the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). The OTS, formerly known as the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States, was established in 2009 as an intergovernmental organization to promote comprehensive cooperation among Turkic States. Its four founding member states are Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Türkiye.
Uzbekistan joined as a full member during the 7th summit in Baku in October 2019. Hungary received observer status at the organization during its 6th Summit in Cholpon-Ata in September 2018, and Turkmenistan became an observer member during the 8th summit in November 2021 in Istanbul.
Kazakhstan assumed chairmanship during the 10th anniversary OTS summit in Astana in November 2023. There, President Tokayev announced Kazakhstan's chairmanship will be held under the TURKTIME motto, which stands for Traditions, Unity, Reforms, Knowledge, Trust, Investment, Mediation and Energy.
He emphasized the importance of fostering free export of goods to the common market by creating uniform standards, which he noted will “ensure annual GDP growth of about 1%.”
Tokayev also noted that challenges associated with arms and drug trafficking, terrorism, extremism, and migration are currently escalating.
Given the current geopolitical tensions and associated risks, the President emphasized the importance of mediation, highlighting the principles that Kazakhstan has promoted in its foreign policy for many years - resolving any conflicts solely through peaceful negotiations and diplomatic dialogue.
Other important tasks are the development of green finance, the development of new energy sources, their modernization, and the diversification of transportation routes.
Another important initiative at OTS, which was spearheaded by Kazakhstan, is the Turkic Investment Fund. In an interview with Kazinform in November 2023, President of the Turkic Investment Fund Baghdad Amreyev stated that the fund will be the first and main joint financial institution established aimed at mobilizing the economic potential of member states and strengthening trade and economic cooperation.
Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia
The idea of establishing CICA also belongs to Kazakhstan. Initiated by Kazakhstan in 1992, CICA is a multi-national forum for enhancing cooperation toward promoting peace, security, and stability in Asia.
It builds on the concept that there is a close link between peace, security, and stability in Asia and in the rest of the world, which can be achieved through dialogue and cooperation leading to a common indivisible area of security in Asia, where all states co-exist peacefully, and their people live in peace, freedom, and prosperity.
CICA has 28 member states accounting for nearly 90 percent of the territory and population of Asia.
Kazakhstan assumed chairmanship at CICA in 2020 for two years, and later in 2022, it was extended for another two years. Kazakhstan’s key priorities include the transformation of CICA into a full-fledged organization, the process that began at the sixth CICA Summit in Astana in October 2022, the creation of the CICA Council on Sustainable Interconnectivity, and the transformation of the CICA Finance Summit into a permanent platform.
Addressing the plenary session of the sixth summit in October 2022, President Tokayev outlined five priority areas in how the country sees CICA’s development.
It includes the economic dimension, with a focus on developing transport and logistics; strengthening cooperation in the finance sector; the environmental dimension; food security and human dimension.
The nation also plans to hold a high-level conference on environmental issues, preliminary scheduled for August this year, and hold a rally of leaders of volunteer movements of the CICA countries in Astana.
In July 2023, a roadmap for the implementation of Kazakhstan’s priorities in CICA for 2023-2024 was signed.
On January 31, the CICA Secretary-General met with Senate Speaker Maulen Ashimbayev to discuss the progress in implementing Kazakhstan’s priorities at CICA. Commending the work done, Ashimbayev also suggested setting up cooperation with the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
“We are aware that the Catalogue of CICA Confidence-Building Measures includes the development of dialogue among civilizations, cultures, and religions. It would be important to consider the possibility of joint work in this direction,” said Ashimbayev.
CSTO priorities
On January 1 this year, Kazakhstan took over the chairmanship at the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
The organization was established in 2002 based on the Collective Security Treaty signed on May 15, 1992. The main focus of the organization's activities is military cooperation.
Addressing the CSTO Council session in November 2023 in Minsk, Tokayev stressed Kazakhstan’s readiness to make its contribution to further strengthening the collective security system.
He proposed several priority areas. First is the cooperation with other countries and international organizations in the field of security.
“We propose to focus on maintaining the established level of interaction with the United Nations and its structures. (...) We advocate for further deepening cooperation with the CIS and the SCO,” said Tokayev.
The second direction is military cooperation. He stressed the need to revise the normative legal framework on issues related to ensuring the rapid deployment of CSTO Collective Forces.
Other priorities include the development of cooperation in countering international terrorism and extremism and the illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
On January 12, 2024, CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov, who hails from Kazakhstan, took part in summarizing the results of the CSTO joint staff activities for 2023 and outlined the priorities of the joint staff activities for 2024.
Tasmagambetov noted that the goals set for 2023 had been achieved, and commended the contribution of the organization’s member states to strengthening military cooperation in the CSTO format.
Colonel General Andrei Serdyukov, chief of the CSTO joint staff, outlined the priority tasks for 2024, which envision the improvement of the regulatory legal framework governing the development of the CSTO's military component, the work with the CSTO Secretariat and defense agencies to improve the crisis response system, the qualitative preparation and conduct of joint operational and combat training activities.
International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea
This year, Kazakhstan will also chair the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS). It is an international organization aimed at addressing the environmental and socio-economic challenges related to the Aral Sea crisis. The nation will lead IFAS for the next three years.
IFAS was established in 1993 by the countries of Central Asia - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan with the support of the United Nations. The primary goal of IFAS is to coordinate efforts among the member states to mitigate the consequences of the shrinking Aral Sea, such as desertification, loss of biodiversity, and adverse effects on human health and livelihoods.
As a country directly affected by the Aral Sea crisis, Kazakhstan actively participates in IFAS initiatives through financial support, technical expertise, and participation in collaborative projects aimed at mitigating the consequences of the Aral Sea disaster.
Addressing the meeting of the Council of Heads of State – Founders of IFAS in Dushanbe in September 2023, Tokayev warned Central Asia's security is threatened by global climate change, the onset of the dry season and the shortage of irrigation water.
“According to international experts, the temperature in our region is rising much faster than the global average. This leads to a reduction in the area of glaciers, the main source of water in the Aral Sea basin. Their volume has decreased by 30% over the last 50 years. According to analysts' estimates, by 2050, droughts in Central Asia may amount to 1.3% of GDP per year, resulting in approximately 5 million internal climate migrants,” said Tokayev.
Kazakhstan will hold the next summit of IFAS in Kazakhstan in 2026, combining it with the Regional Climate Summit initiated by Kazakhstan under the auspices of the UN.
Food security - a growing concern
Kazakhstan initiated the establishment of the Islamic Food Security Organization (IFSO).
Founded in 2013, IFSO is a 41-member international organization established to address food security challenges among member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
It aims to enhance agricultural productivity, improve food distribution systems, and promote cooperation in agricultural research and technology transfer among member countries. The organization also works to strengthen resilience to food crises, combat hunger, and provide assistance. For instance, in February 2023, under the IFSO, Kazakhstan sent 50 tons of humanitarian aid to Syria, which was hit hard by the powerful earthquake.
Addressing the sixth General Assembly of IFSO in Doha in October 2023, the Kazakh delegation has outlined proposals, including the development of transportation and logistics infrastructure and the formation of new routes for the delivery of food products, increasing investment cooperation, efficient use of water resources in agriculture, and active humanitarian assistance to those in need.
Strong diplomacy is key in geopolitical turmoil
Maintaining strong diplomacy remains crucial in geopolitical turmoil. It becomes even more important taking into account the fact that 2024 will be the year of elections in many countries.
The launch of the global electoral cycle in 2024 will become a central element of world politics and in such circumstances, the importance of diplomatic efforts to “build bridges” increases, said chief expert at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS) Miras Zhienbayev in a comment for this article.
“Kazakhstan assumes the chairmanship simultaneously in several fundamentally important international organizations, which will become a feature of Kazakh diplomacy. The history of our diplomacy demonstrates our practical commitment to the norms of international law and the institutionalization of multilateral cooperation,” said Zhienbayev.
According to the expert, Astana has created a “space for equal dialogue and constructive interaction” on the widest range of topics, from cultural and humanitarian cooperation to security issues.
“Today, Kazakhstan is not just a member of a significant complex of international organizations, which form the backbone of the global governance system, but also an initiator of many regional and international initiatives. Today, our country maintains exceptional dynamics in its foreign policy activity, thereby creating important impulses and conditions for dialogue on strategically important issues,” he said.
He believes Kazakhstan, as one of the middle powers, can make a significant contribution to laying the groundwork for more effective international cooperation aimed at preserving stability. He said the nation seeks to “ensure synergy in the potential of Kazakhstan's chairmanship in international organizations, the success of which will have systemic importance for transitioning from dialogue to rational actions on issues of common agendas and the future.”
