Source: 美·中·러 이어 EU·日도 러브콜… 몸값 치솟은 중앙亞 ‘스탄 5형제’

The five nations of Central Asia - Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan - are no longer on the periphery of global affairs. Once viewed as a remote frontier, the region has emerged as the focus of intensifying diplomatic competition among the world’s major powers.

On December 20, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hosted the inaugural Japan – Central Asia Summit in Tokyo. The meeting concluded with the adoption of the Tokyo Declaration, outlining a ¥3 trillion economic cooperation package over five years. The agreement prioritizes strengthening critical mineral supply chains and expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence.

The summit follows a series of high‑level engagements involving the Central Asian leaders. Since April 2025, the five presidents have collectively held summits with the European Union, China, Russia, and the United States. Most recently in Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the leaders at a state dinner, where plans were announced for a $2 billion AI center in Kazakhstan involving major American technology firms.

Analysts attribute Central Asia’s rising strategic value to its vast reserves of uranium, gold, and rare earth elements, as well as its position as a geopolitical bridge linking Europe, China, the Middle East, and South Asia. Amid growing global instability, the region is pursuing a pragmatic multi‑vector diplomatic strategy - maintaining balanced relations with competing powers while maximizing economic and strategic gains.