Macron hopes trip to former Soviet states will secure uranium, counter Russia

French President Emmanuel Macron is to visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan next week, as France seeks to counter Russian influence in the former Soviet republics and strengthen economic ties in countries with high amounts of raw materials, including uranium.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Elysée Palace in November 2022. © Francois Mori/AP

Announcing Macron’s visit on 1 and 2 November, the presidency said France wanted to help the two countries in their "reform and modernisation efforts" and to support their desire to "reinforce their links with Europe”.

Kazakhstan’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokaïev met Macron in Paris on an official visit in November 2022, and the two leaders spoke about developing their cooperation in the domain of critical raw materials.

Uranium supplies

Kazakhstan is the world’s largest producer of uranium, while Uzbekistan produces a fifth of the world’s supply.

France, which generates two-thirds of its electricity from its 56 nuclear reactors, gets most of its uranium from Kazakhstan, and it is looking to secure its supply after the coup in Niger, its third largest uranium supplier.

France has said it would be willing to participate in building the first nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan, whose Soviet-era energy network does not produce enough energy to meet its growing needs.

• France extends lifespan of 40-year-old nuclear reactor to meet energy needs

Countering Russia

According to the Kazakh presidency, the leaders will discuss economic and energy cooperation, as well as “international and regional” issues.

Kazakhstan, a Russian ally, is looking to play up its strategic position between Europe and Asia by forging partnerships with France and Europe in general.

However, despite reforms, Kazakhstan remains under tight control of Tokayev, who in January crushed an uprising in which 238 people, mostly civilians, were killed.

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who won a third term in office in July, has promised to open up the country to foreign investment and tourism.

However NGOs say that there is still a lot to improve in terms of democracy, and there is no real opposition in the country.

(with newswires)