The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has highlighted the necessity of upholding traditional moral values and political pragmatism, emphasizing that global events have validated Kazakhstan’s approach to governance and international engagement. His remarks, delivered in a recent address last week, appeared to align with policies pursued by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump in relation to international governance, foreign aid, and institutional transparency.
“For decades, many countries have been forcefully subjected to so-called democratic moral values, including LGBT rights. This was carried out by international non-governmental funds and organizations, which, under this banner, blatantly interfered in the internal affairs of many nations,” President Tokayev stated.
His comments come at a time when the United States has undertaken significant shifts in its international policies. Since his re-election, President Trump’s administration has moved to restructure American foreign aid, including the near-total dissolution of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). As part of these efforts, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the closure of approximately 83% of USAID’s programs, citing inefficiencies and the need for a more streamlined foreign policy approach.
“In reality, it turned out to be quite simple – multi-billion budgets were plundered. The personal wealth of almost all those advocating for ‘progress and democracy,’ ‘human rights,’ ‘freedom of the press,’ and the ‘fight against corruption’ does not align in any way with their official salaries,” Tokayev remarked.
“Therefore, the efforts of the current American administration, led by President Trump, to expose large-scale abuses, uncover the political hypocrisy of the “deep state,” and restore traditional moral values deserve support. Everyone knows that everything that happens in the U.S. has a direct impact on the entire world,” he added.
While Kazakhstan, the largest country in in Central Asia that neighbors Russia and China, has historically maintained a balanced foreign policy, the country has continued to develop strong economic ties with the United States in recent years. In 2024, U.S. exports to Kazakhstan amounted to approximately $1.08 billion. In the energy sector, cooperation remains particularly strong. For instance, Chevron, one of the largest foreign investors in Kazakhstan, initiated a $48 billion expansion of Kazakhstan’s Tengiz oilfield in January 2025, aiming to boost production by 260,000 barrels per day by mid-year, bringing total output to around 1 million barrels per day.
Further strengthening economic relations, the U.S. Congress has been considering granting Kazakhstan Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status by repealing the Jackson-Vanik Amendment. This legislative change, under discussion since November 2024, would remove Cold War-era trade restrictions and facilitate a more open and predictable commercial relationship between the two nations.
In his address, President Tokayev also stressed Kazakhstan’s long-standing commitment to governance based on a balance between historical, traditional, and modern values, a principle that has guided the country’s domestic and foreign policies.
“We have always proceeded from the necessity of balancing historical, traditional, and modern values. Long ago, we called for political pragmatism and emphasized the importance of upholding Law and Order. Current global events have confirmed the correctness of our course,” he said.
While Tokayev’s remarks did not directly reference any specific U.S. policy, his emphasis on traditional values, political pragmatism, and concerns over foreign interference mirror some of the key themes of the Trump administration’s second-term agenda. With growing energy cooperation and potential trade enhancements on the horizon, U.S.-Kazakh relations are set to deepen, even as both nations navigate shifting international dynamics.
