Experts discuss the reasons for a terrible traffic jam at the Russian-Kazakh border

NTV podcast by Kevin Schulte with Managing Partner Dr. Hannes Meissner

A sudden traffic jam stretching for miles at the border between Kazakhstan and Russia has brought freight traffic between the two countries to a standstill for months. Customs officials on the Kazakh and Russian sides are checking deliveries very carefully. Experts discuss the geopolitical reasons for this.

The Oral-Samara highway is an important hub for freight transport between the two countries, which are members of the Eurasian Economic Union. The importance of the transport corridor has increased since the start of the war in Ukraine, as goods that can no longer be delivered to Russia directly are being transported via Kazakhstan.

“There are conflicting interpretations of the reasons for the blockade, underscoring the geopolitical significance of this incident”, says Dr. Hannes Meissner. While Moscow argues that Russia had to close the border for security reasons, some Western experts believe that this incident represents a serious move by Kazakhstan away from Russia and toward the West.

In the NTV podcast, managing partner Dr. Hannes Meissner argues that Kazakhstan has always tried to strike a balance between Russia, China, and the West. On the one hand, its Soviet past means it is heavily dependent on Russia. On the other hand, it seeks cooperation with China and the West. Therefore, the blockade is more of a symbolic act than a new reality that would mean better compliance with Western sanctions against Russia. Kazakhstan wants to demonstrate its sovereignty to Russia while presenting itself to the West as a reliable partner. This is entirely in line with its traditional policy of balancing between both sides.

Please follow the link to the NTV Podcast.