Kazakhstan President to Chancellor: Oil, Raw Materials and Putin

More oil from Kazakhstan - during President Tokayev's visit to Berlin, Chancellor Merz stressed German interest. In general, economic cooperation is to become closer. The Russian war of aggression was also an issue. By Christina Nagel At the end of his exceptionally long speech, the Kazakh President looks apologetically at the Chancellor.

For a press conference, he looked back in great detail on the diplomatic relations between the two countries, which are celebrating their 35th anniversary these days. It wasn't always easy. But both sides would have made a lot of it. However, the potential has not yet been exhausted, stresses Kassym-Schomart Tokayev.

A point on which the President and Chancellor agree. Especially when it comes to economic matters. "We are very interested in getting oil from Kazakhstan, for example, as a replacement for the oil that we no longer source from Russia," says Friedrich Merz. Further raw material deliveries under discussion Kazakhstan is already one of Germany's most important oil suppliers.

President Tokayev can imagine further increasing the delivery volume. He also brings a raw materials partnership into play. Because the huge Central Asian country has strategically important raw materials such as rare earths, which are needed for batteries. What he has in mind, however, is not a pure import and export of goods, but a real cooperation: common production and supply chains.

Both sides have agreed on a road map. They want to create the appropriate framework conditions in the coming years. For example, explains Chancellor Merz, with a view to the recognition of standards. “We also agreed to promote joint analytics for our supply chains.

We want to connect more closely. We want to build resilient supply chains for this." Projects with a volume of billions are planned. German SMEs should also be brought on board in the long term. Tokayev is optimistic that it will succeed: because both sides would like to move forward. Now it is a matter of implementing the agreements, Tokayev emphasises.

This also applies to dozens of new joint projects from a wide variety of areas that have been launched within the framework of the German-Kazakh Economic Forum. With an estimated total volume of well over one billion euros. Tokayev praises Putin. Kazakhstan also benefits from the sanctions that the West has imposed on Russia. The war against Ukraine is also an issue in the Chancellery, where the Kazakh president surprises with a hymn of praise to Vladimir Putin, with whom he has a very good relationship.

“I think he's an outstanding statesman,” Tokayev says. The president had tried to persuade the Kremlin to freeze the conflict - so far without success. The chancellor, who had explained his position to the Kazakh head of state, was not surprised. The conversation between Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in New York showed that Russia was not interested in serious negotiations.

Germany will therefore continue to support Ukraine, Merz emphasises - not only militarily, but also politically, financially and economically.