Russia is seeking to expand cooperation with Central Asian countries in the exploration, extraction and processing of rare earth metals, underlining the region's growing importance in the global race for critical raw materials.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova described Central Asia as a strategically important region with significant reserves of rare earth elements and other critical materials. She said Moscow is interested in strengthening cooperation with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and views the countries of the region as sovereign and independent partners.
According to Zakharova, Russia's approach focuses on economic cooperation, including local processing, scientific and technological collaboration, workforce training and industrial development.
The renewed interest comes as Central Asia attracts increasing international attention for its mineral wealth. In 2025, Kazakhstan announced the discovery of a rare earth metals deposit estimated at more than 20 million tonnes. If confirmed, the find could place the country among the world's leading holders of rare earth resources.
Kazakhstan is also capable of producing more than half of the 34 materials designated by the European Union as critical raw materials, including lithium, cobalt, copper, tungsten and rare earth elements. Kazakhstan's Senate has previously estimated the value of the country's mineral resources at $46 trillion.
China remains the dominant player in the region's critical minerals sector. According to industry estimates, around 70% of Central Asia's critical mineral output is exported to China, underscoring Beijing's strong position in regional supply chains.
Much of Central Asia's resource potential remains unexplored. Experts estimate that the region's five countries collectively hold around 38.6% of global manganese ore reserves, 31% of chromium reserves, 20% of lead reserves, 12.6% of zinc reserves and 8.7% of titanium reserves. The region also contains significant deposits of copper, cobalt and molybdenum.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Central Asia is home to 384 identified rare earth and rare metal deposits. Kazakhstan accounts for 160 of them, followed by Uzbekistan with 87, Kyrgyzstan with 75, Tajikistan with 60 and Turkmenistan with two.
Experts say Central Asia is gaining strategic importance as countries seek new sources of critical minerals and look to diversify supply chains. The region's large reserves and largely untapped deposits are drawing increasing attention from international investors and governments alike.
BMW is recalling more than 720,000 vehicles in the U.S. over a fire risk, warning owners to park outside and away from buildings until repairs are ...
Tajikistan has urged the international community to increase funding to protect shrinking glaciers and help mountain communities adapt to climate c...
A new study in mice suggests the brain’s protective barrier does more than block harmful substances. It also delivers essential proteins from...
European leaders gathered in Dublin on Thursday, 12 November, for the ninth European Political Community (EPC) summit, with security, defence and energy high on the agenda. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held talks focused on peace, trade and regional cooperation.
Iran will not let a single particle of its enriched nuclear material leave the country, and any new U.S. attack would be met with strikes on distant American bases, Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei has said.
Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang is stepping down amid reports linking him to a woman suspected by U.S. authorities of spying for China, throwing the future of the $4 trillion chipmaker into uncertainty.
Kazakhstan’s security service has arrested Nurlan Zhakupov, CEO of Samruk-Kazyna, the country’s sovereign wealth fund, on suspicion of corruption. Yelzhas Otynshiyev, Chairman of KTZ, Kazakhstan’s national railway firm has also been detained.
Eight people have been killed and at least 17 injured after an apartment building collapsed into a neighbouring construction site in Brooklyn, New York, as rescuers continued searching the rubble for possible survivors.
Tajikistan has urged the international community to increase funding to protect shrinking glaciers and help mountain communities adapt to climate change at the COP31 UN climate summit in Antalya, Türkiye.
Melting glaciers, recurring droughts and dust storms are putting growing pressure on Central Asia’s water resources, agriculture and public health.
Iran’s Assembly of Experts has backed withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and overhauling the country’s defence doctrine, calling both steps essential to national security and deterrence.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed climate commitments from world leaders at COP31 on Thursday, as he held a series of high-level meetings covering regional security, trade and energy cooperation.
Iraq is exploring the possibility of importing natural gas from Azerbaijan through Türkiye as Baghdad looks for new ways to secure fuel for its power stations and reduce its dependence on external suppliers.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment