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Bloomberg: French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent diplomatic efforts have been met with mixed reviews. While his attempts to rally the Global South on Ukraine and counterterrorism in sub-Saharan Africa have failed, his recent visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan offers new perspectives. This region is crucial for geopolitics and energy security, especially for diversifying Europe away from Russian raw materials. Uranium, a key fuel for France’s nuclear industry, is largely sourced from Kazakhstan, which accounts for 43% of the world’s supply.
The recent coup in Niger, which led to a halt in uranium processing by French nuclear company Orano SA, has exacerbated the need for alternative sources. Macron is not the only leader considering the region for diversification beyond Russia. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and China are also seeking strategic partnerships. While France does not have a grand strategy on its own, it can leverage its position within the EU, which is the largest aid donor to Central Asia and is looking to strengthen trade and transportation ties.
During his visit, Macron emphasized France’s cultural ties, announcing initiatives to promote the French language in Kazakhstan and opening a branch of the Alliance Française in Uzbekistan. In terms of business investment, French companies such as Total Energies, Alstom, EDF and Thales presented projects ranging from building wind farms to building nuclear power plants to supplying military radars.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-11-03/france-s-energy-security-quest-takes-macron-to-kazakhstan-uzbekistan
