Russia bans imports of food products from Kazakhstan after refusing to join BRICS

This article was originally published in Russian

Kazakhstan is watching the BRICS summit with interest but has not yet decided whether to join. Meanwhile, Russia restricts agricultural imports from Kazakhstan, citing security concerns.

On the eve of the BRICS summit, Kazakhstan said it was “still following the developments” of the bloc with interest.

Despite Moscow’s representations to President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev, the question of joining the association is not yet on the table, with Tokayev having declared that in the current circumstances there was no alternative at the UN.

Immediately afterwards, it became known that Russia was limiting the import of agricultural products from Kazakhstan, including fresh flowers, due to an alleged invasion of harmful insects.

“Kazakhstan re-exports most flowers from the Netherlands, Poland and Belgium. However, the relevant agencies of these countries do not ensure the appropriate level of control over product safety,” the Russian phytosanitary agency said Rosselkhoznadzor in a statement.

“The decision was taken in order to preserve the phytosanitary well-being of Russia and the volume of exported goods, as well as taking into account the numerous cases (43) of detection in 2023 and 2024 in floral products (of) thrips fruit.”

“The potential economic damage linked to the penetration and spread of western flower thrips amounts to more than 11.5 billion rubles (110 billion euros),” the agency added.

Growing pressure on Kazakhstan

“Restrictions and bans on imports of agricultural products and wheat between Kazakhstan and Russia undoubtedly reflect increasing pressure on Kazakhstan, although this is not the first time they have arisen,” Kuat said Dombai, director of the C+5 Center for Central Asian Studies. Euronews.

“Previously, Russia repeatedly banned the transit of Kazakh oil through the Novorossiysk seaport under various pretexts of technical failures at the terminal, which coincided with some pressing problems in bilateral relations. More than 80% of Kazakh oil is exported to Europe through him.”

What guides Astana’s position on possible BRICS membership?

“Kazakhstan has repeatedly stated that it does not intend to violate or to some extent circumvent the sanctions measures imposed on Russia in connection with the war in Ukraine, which in practice constitutes a very difficult task, given that the country shares the largest land border of 7,500 kilometers and is in a single customs space with Russia within the EAEU,” Dombai explained.

BRICS meeting takes place in Kazan as Russian troops destroy Ukrainian towns and villages. How does Russian military aggression affect relations between Russia and Kazakhstan?

“Kazakhstan undoubtedly finds itself in a very difficult economic situation, under the threat of secondary sanctions, traditional logistics chains have been destroyed and Kazakh society is logically and soberly aware of the threat of possible territorial claims around the corner. Street.”

“Given that after the collapse of the USSR, two countries, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, signed the Budapest Memorandum, with guarantees from the West in exchange for the abandonment of nuclear weapons ” said Dombai.

Kremlin: BRICS “are not an alliance against anyone”

Many analysts believe that amid international sanctions and the ongoing war against Ukraine, Moscow is trying to show that plans to isolate Vladimir Putin have failed.

The Kremlin says more than 30 countries have applied to join BRICS, but the exact list has not been disclosed.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Russian mediathat “BRICS does not force anyone to sacrifice anything.” According to Lavrov, “this association is not against anyone.”

The head of Russian diplomacy also said that Kazakhstan should see no obstacles to joining the bloc.

“It seems to me that in the long term, our southern neighbors, our CSTO and EAEU allies, will first of all see the direct benefits of rapprochement with the BRICS,” Lavrov said.

“There is no need to join, but to cooperate in the implementation of specific projects, there is no doubt about that. It is in the interest of all of us.”

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