09 December 2024 | 21:21

Why Trump and Putin might choose Astana for historic meeting - expert's opinion

Putin and Trump. Archived photo: kremlin.ru

Tengrinews.kz - According to Central Asia expert Arkady Dubnov, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Qatar and participation in the Doha Forum became a noteworthy event, coinciding with historic developments in the Middle East, including the fall of Syria’s Assad family regime after 54 years in power.

Tengrinews.kz - According to Central Asia expert Arkady Dubnov, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Qatar and participation in the Doha Forum became a noteworthy event, coinciding with historic developments in the Middle East, including the fall of Syria’s Assad family regime after 54 years in power.

"Following the military coup in 1970, Hafez al-Assad became president, and after his death in 2000, his younger son Bashar, then 30 years old, inherited power. The Doha Forum began on December 7, when President Assad was still in his Damascus palace. By the next day, as the forum concluded, Assad was no longer in the capital," noted the Russian political analyst.

Despite this, Dubnov emphasized that President Tokayev managed to hold an important meeting on the forum's first day with Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and a prominent Qatari business leader. These discussions reaffirmed the successful implementation of investment agreements, particularly in energy and telecommunications. Notably, an agreement to construct the Semipalatinsk hydroelectric power plant with a capacity of 300 megawatts was approved.

Photo by Akorda press service

"Tokayev participated in a panel discussion at the forum and, responding to questions from CNN journalist Julia Chatterley, highlighted one of the most pressing global issues: the inability of major powers to find common ground, which renders the UN (where they hold veto power) incapable of addressing global challenges. In this context, the Kazakh President reiterated his call for reforming the UN, which he considers to be at an impasse, and increasing the role of medium-sized powers like Kazakhstan. He emphasized that this would play 'an important role in advancing peace and security both regionally and globally,'" Dubnov explained.

Dubnov added that Kazakhstan’s potential was underscored by Tokayev’s recent phone conversation with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

"Tokayev became the first leader of a CIS country with whom the 47th U.S. president deemed it necessary to establish contact after his election. In my opinion, this reinforces my earlier suggestion, shared in an interview with Khabar TV and on social media, that Astana could become the venue for a Trump-Putin meeting next year, where an attempt might be made to halt the war in Ukraine. With the Russian leader under the looming threat of an ICC arrest warrant, there are few places abroad where he would feel comfortable meeting the U.S. president, and Astana appears to be an ideal location for such a summit," the Russian political analyst noted.

Commenting on developments in Syria, Dubnov pointed out that while the trilateral meeting of Russia, Iran, and Turkey in the Astana format during the Doha Forum may not have yielded significant results, it does not mean this format will no longer be relevant.

"The Middle East is in motion, and some redrawing of its internal borders cannot be ruled out. Astana’s role in peacekeeping may yet be in demand," concluded Arkady Dubnov.

Earlier, Tokayev participated in a special session at the Doha Forum in the Newsmaker Interview format, answering questions from CNN journalist Julia Chatterley. The President stated that major powers have failed to make the world safer, and current realities raise serious concerns for many countries, including Kazakhstan.

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