Connectivity

EU Energy Security and Kazakhstan’s Position on the Middle Corridor

Before the 24th of February 2022, freight through the New Eurasian Land Bridge (NELB) or so-called ‘Northern Corridor’ —with Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine as its most critical components— showed great promise. However, the war in Ukraine and the related Western sanctions against Russia and Belarus have created significant shifts in global geo-economics and supply chains. This has heavily affected various sectors such as global energy markets, transportation, and logistics, alongside infrastructural connectivity initiatives.

The Growing EU Engagement in Central Asia: Challenging the Russian Predominance in its Traditional Backyard

On 18 November 2022, Samarkand hosted the “EU-Central Asia Connectivity Conference: Global Gateway”. Preceded by the late October 2022 visit to Astana by European Council President Charles Michel, the summit confirmed a new and more vigorous European push towards the Central Asian region, historically located in the backyard of the Russian Federation.

Stairway to Heaven or Highway to Hell? The EU’s Global Gateway and Expanding Economic Statecraft

On 1 December 2021, the EU launched its brand new infrastructural development scheme – “The Global Gateway”. By pledging to mobilise up to 300 billion EUR in investments by 2027, the EU is adding significant firepower to its toolkit of economic statecraft.

The EU Connectivity Strategy: Putting Words into Action

The EU is stepping up its global connectivity efforts, also seeking to offer countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America viable alternatives to China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’. But how can the EU Connectivity Strategy be successfully implemented?

The 2021 EU-India Leaders’ Meeting: Far from a Done Deal

Announcements made following the meeting showcase renewed desire for the establishment of a solid multi-faceted relationship between the EU and India, encompassing trade and technology. Behind this course of action lies a clearly shared common vision of a multipolar Indo-Pacific. The circumstances of this alignment, however, cast doubt on its long-term potential and implementation.

An “Indo-Pacific” Outlook for the European Union

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