Kazakhstan at a Crossroads: Strategic Energy Dialogue at the 2025 Energy & Defense Summit by Atlantic Council

On October 8, 2025, the Center for Global Civic and Political Strategies participated in the 2025 Energy & Defense Summit, hosted by the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center. The summit brought together senior military leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to explore the growing role of energy as a critical factor in modern defense and national security.

During the summit, the Center raised a forward-looking question that addressed the geopolitical importance of Kazakhstan’s evolving energy partnerships, particularly in the context of the country’s strategic realignment and the likely halted Russian-backed nuclear power project. The intervention centered on the need for renewed U.S. engagement in Kazakhstan’s energy sector—especially as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev prepares for a scheduled visit to the United States in November 2025.

Energy, Sovereignty, and Strategic Partnerships

The question posed by the Center focused on key developments:

• Kazakhstan’s emerging interest in full-cycle nuclear energy partnerships from Eastern countries;

• The growing security concerns surrounding energy investments in the region;

• Russia’s abandonment of the nuclear power plant project in Kazakhstan;

• And the strategic potential for U.S. investment in rare earth minerals, uranium, grid infrastructure, and nuclear innovation.

These issues were raised as part of a broader conversation on how energy security shapes defense capabilities, resilience, and long-term national sovereignty. The panel’s response, available in full at 3:06:00 in the event recording, acknowledged the significance of Kazakhstan’s positioning and the importance of sustained U.S. engagement in Central Asia.

Advocating for Strategic U.S. Engagement

The Center emphasized that Kazakhstan is approaching a critical inflection point. As global powers compete to dominate energy supply chains and infrastructure, the strategic direction Kazakhstan chooses—whether toward the East or West—will have lasting implications for regional stability and global energy markets.

With the upcoming U.S. visit by President Tokayev, the timing is ideal for the United States to define a clear investment and cooperation strategy in Kazakhstan. Priorities should include:

• Supporting Kazakhstan’s energy independence through secure and diversified partnerships;

• Investing in critical mineral development and nuclear energy infrastructure;

• Promoting Western-aligned regulatory standards and transparent governance in energy deals.

Such engagement would reinforce the broader objective of ensuring Kazakhstan remains a sovereign, stable, and strategically aligned partner in the heart of Central Asia.

The Center’s Role in Policy Discourse

This intervention at the Energy & Defense Summit reflects the Center’s ongoing commitment to advancing civic and political strategies that bridge global policy with regional realities. By highlighting pressing energy and security issues in Central Asia, the Center continues to serve as a catalyst for informed dialogue, responsible investment, and strategic Western engagement.

Kazakhstan’s energy future—and by extension, its geopolitical orientation—is not predetermined. Through constructive diplomacy and targeted investment, the United States and its allies have an opportunity to foster energy security, democratic resilience, and regional balance.

Watch the Panel Response:
Click here to view the full discussion and the panel’s response to the Center’s question (timestamp 3:06:00).