Although Germany is not a new player in Central Asia, the outlook for future cooperation between the Central Asian countries and the locomotive of the European economy currently appears unclear. Several factors contribute to this, such as the region's remoteness from Germany, geopolitical uncertainty in the South Caucasus, and the unclear trajectory of the German economy. As the existing "raw materials in exchange for technology" formula demonstrates, the key interest of Central Asian countries in cooperation with Germany lies in attracting investments, something to which German industry is open due to significant losses from the war in Ukraine, particularly with the loss of markets in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia.
According to a joint declaration signed by the leaders, a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Central Asian countries and Germany is planned for next year. This meeting will be central to the relations between Germany and the Central Asian region, as the parties have yet to conclude the institutionalization of this cooperation format. Currently, there is a practice of holding meetings in the "C5+1" format, with separate meetings involving German business representatives, but there is no clear understanding of how this format should look in the future, unlike the plans of the US and China, which aim to institutionalize their formats of cooperation with the region. The foreign ministers are expected to discuss the technical aspects of the leaders' meetings and the creation of various working groups, which have been mentioned by different Central Asian leaders, such as launching a think-tank forum or establishing an energy club.
How are the relations between Germany and the Central Asian countries currently shaping up?
If one analyzes the cooperation through the prism of a multilateral format, it is not entirely clear what the parties want to achieve. At the end of his speech, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz even posed questions like "Where do you see additional potential for our relations? In which areas should we deepen our cooperation? Where can Germany play a more active role?" Scholz's speech stood out from those delivered by Central Asian leaders. His address was more general, focusing on historical ties, shared values, and an invitation to dialogue. The tone was more personal and diplomatic, expressing gratitude and appreciation. In comparison, the speech by Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow was more structured and specific, listing priority areas and proposals. Berdimuhamedow’s style was official, emphasizing strategic goals and specific areas of cooperation. He made concrete proposals to intensify dialogue on "green" issues, designating it as a separate focus, and to develop youth cooperation. Scholz, on the other hand, focused more on inviting discussion and wanting to hear suggestions from Central Asian leaders.
The attempt to explore common ground for cooperation can even be observed in the joint statements signed after the last two meetings in 2023 and 2024. The 2023 joint statement clearly outlined the areas of cooperation, namely the economy, energy and natural resources, regional cooperation and resilience, climate and environment, and people-to-people contacts. However, the 2024 joint statement lacks such clear definitions. This document contains new initiatives, specific plans, and an expansion of cooperation areas, particularly in transportation, energy, ecology, and humanitarian relations. No significant changes in political direction were observed.
Does Germany have a plan?
During meetings between the German Chancellor and the Presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, mostly statements and declarations were signed. Several signs from Chancellor’s own party, SPD, indicate Germany’s uncertainty regarding further actions in Central Asia. In March 2024, the Chancellor’s party published a position paper offering general recommendations on areas such as transport, the economy, and ecology but without a clear action plan to advance its interests in the region. This suggests that Central Asia may have a low priority in Germany’s foreign policy.
In 2021, the "Traffic Light" coalition after parliamentary election in Germany signed an agreement that did not prioritize Central Asia. Prior to this, the region had been important for Germany, as confirmed by the EU Council Presidency program in 2020, which included Central Asia. However, the role of the region was not reflected in strategic documents after the change in government, though the war in Ukraine has since shifted Germany’s approach.
In 2022, Chancellor Scholz announced the "Zeitenwende"—a turning point in policy related to defense, economics, and energy, with a focus on diversifying partners. This has led to increased interest in Central Asia, as confirmed by bilateral visits and a focus on energy.
Central Asia does not yet hold a key place in Germany’s strategic frameworks, though a project from the Foreign Ministry emphasized the need to counter Russia's and China’s influence in the region. The ongoing "crisis-to-crisis" approach remains an issue, as demonstrated by the visits of ministers in 2021 and 2023.
During the visit from September 29 to 30, 2023, in Berlin, Central Asian leaders participated in a joint business meeting organized by the Eastern Committee of the German economy. At this meeting, the parties agreed to compile a "Berlin list" of multilateral projects in Central Asia, to be selected jointly. However, after the summit, no information has emerged regarding this list of projects, nor have there been significant announcements about joint German-Central Asian projects.
Priority in Cooperation: Technology and Education
Germany is actively developing educational and scientific cooperation with the Central Asian countries, paying special attention to strengthening ties in higher education, science, professional training, and innovation. This cooperation is aimed at exchanging experience, conducting joint research, and training qualified personnel to meet the growing labor market demands. One of the first steps in this direction was the signing of a technical cooperation agreement with Kazakhstan in 1997, which involved sending German specialists, providing materials and equipment, as well as training Kazakh specialists in Germany and other countries. As a result, the German-Kazakh University (DKU) was established in Almaty, offering students opportunities for academic mobility and dual-degree programs. Additionally, the German-Kazakh Institute for Sustainable Engineering Sciences was opened in Aktau, specializing in logistics and energy/environmental engineering. In the future, the opening of a branch of the Berlin Technical University is planned to further develop engineering programs, alongside the creation of a German-Kazakh Institute of Science and Technology at the East Kazakhstan Technical University and DKU, and the opening of a Kazakh-German school in Astana.
In Kyrgyzstan, an intergovernmental agreement resulted in the establishment of the Kyrgyz-German Technical Institute in 2004, which trains specialists in technical fields. Cooperation in informatics is also actively developing, with the founding of the Kyrgyz-German Institute of Applied Informatics in 2004. The future plan includes strengthening partnerships with German universities to expand exchange programs and joint projects. In Uzbekistan, Germany is helping implement a dual education system, combining theoretical education with practical training at enterprises. An electronic platform is set to launch to identify labor market needs and provide vocational training for students, along with expanding academic mobility programs and internships at leading German universities.
Moreover, Germany actively supports the spread of the German language in Central Asian educational institutions and cooperates in archaeology with Kazakh institutes, such as the Archaeology Institute of Alkey Margulan. In the future, further expansion of scientific and technical cooperation, activation of student and researcher exchanges, and deepening of educational ties are planned. These initiatives will contribute to the development of regional economies and the integration of Central Asian countries into the global scientific and educational space.
Looking to the Future
Despite geographic distance and complex geopolitical situations, cooperation between Central Asian countries and Germany continues to grow, with a focus on attracting technology and investments, particularly in educational and scientific projects. Germany remains interested in strengthening economic and energy ties with the region, despite the lack of a clear strategy or institutionalized cooperation formats. However, the expansion of bilateral initiatives, such as educational projects, technological exchanges, and joint research, indicates the potential for deepening relations. Central Asia represents a strategic interest for Germany, especially in the context of diversifying partners and recovering from losses related to the war in Ukraine, which could stimulate further development of long-term cooperation.
Written by: Eldaniz Gusseinov
Eldaniz Gusseinov, is a Non-Resident Research Fellow at Haydar Aliyev Center for Eurasian Studies of the Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul.
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