The US is helping the countries of Central Asia to reorient trade with the Russian Federation

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The United States is closely monitoring Russia’s attempts to circumvent sanctions through neighboring countries and is helping Central Asian countries diversify international trade and reduce ties with the Russian Federation.

It is reported Bloomberg with reference to the statements of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken during his visit to Kazakhstan.

He said the US was closely monitoring Russia’s attempts to circumvent sanctions through Central Asia, and highlighted concerns that Russia was getting microchips and other technology through imports from its neighbours.

Blinken announced that the Biden administration will allocate an additional $25 million to help Central Asian countries diversify trade relations and export routes.

“We are very closely monitoring compliance with sanctions and are in constant discussion with a number of countries,” he said. The US has granted licenses that can help regional companies “wind down these activities and sever ties with Russia,” he noted.

Although Western sanctions against the Russian Federation contributed to a drop in trade between the EU/US and the Russian Federation last year, the increase in trade flows with Russia’s neighbors may be a sign that Moscow has been able to circumvent some of these measures.

“We are very aware of the side effects of Russian aggression,” Blinken said. “We are doing everything we can to minimize them, mitigate them and create many different opportunities for partners here in Central Asia.”

Kazakhstan does not want its territory to be used to circumvent sanctions, Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi said at a joint briefing with Blinken.

US officials monitor sanctions evasion and say they are optimistic that the region, long economically integrated with Russia, is showing some signs of disengagement.

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