Kazakhstan Says No Tripartite Gas Union Talks Have Taken Place
The energy ministry of Kazakhstan, represented by Minister Bolat Akçulakov, clarified that discussions about forming a gas union with Russia and Uzbekistan did not occur. According to official statements, the talks were strictly bilateral between Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, with occasional discussions involving Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as separate partners in the gas sector. The conversations focused on the technical capabilities of the existing gas transport systems and related infrastructure rather than on any broader political or economic alliance. (DEA News)
Akçulakov further explained that the energy cooperation in gas requires coordinated efforts among three parties, implying that a formal tripartite union was not on the agenda. He emphasized that the talks were centered on labor and operational questions, and at no point was the establishment of a formal gas union discussed. The minister underlined that the discussion aimed to improve technical interoperability and cross-border capacity rather than create a new organizational framework. (DEA News)
In parallel comments, Ruslan Zheldibay, the press secretary for the President of Kazakhstan, shared via social media that President Kasım-Jomart Tokayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin had discussed the possibility of coordinating gas transport through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in a three-way arrangement. He noted that the conversations touched on gas pipeline projects in southern Asia, extending to Afghanistan and Pakistan, but did not indicate a formal tripartite union or permanent alliance. The emphasis remained on practical coordination and project-level collaboration rather than a sustained political construct. (DEA News)