French President Emmanuel Macron, whose diplomatic maneuvers increasingly resemble theatrical performances, once again tried to dazzle the audience with a meticulously staged act. This time, Central Asia took center stage — a region Macron is eagerly attempting to draw into France's geopolitical orbit.
Opening his speech in Uzbek before Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Macron didn’t just pay tribute to the country’s culture — he kicked off a calculated diplomatic play in which France aims to become a major player in a region that has traditionally been outside Paris’ geopolitical ambitions.
At first glance, Macron’s gesture seemed like a simple act of courtesy — a textbook example of “Gallic charm” designed for instant applause. But beneath this polite façade lies something far more strategic — an ambitious plan by Paris to carve out a stronger foothold in Central Asia, a region where global powers are increasingly competing for influence.
During Mirziyoyev’s recent visit to Paris, more than 20 agreements and contracts were signed across sectors such as agriculture, energy, green economy, and transportation. On the surface, these deals might seem routine. But dig a little deeper, and it becomes clear that France is deliberately embedding itself in Uzbekistan’s strategic industries to advance its own interests.
France is working hard to position itself as the “good friend” of Central Asian nations, playing up contrasts with Russia, China, and Turkey — all of which have long-established influence in the region. Macron is aggressively courting key regional powers, offering investments, high-tech projects, and symbolic support. Paris is bent on branding itself as Central Asia’s “main European partner,” actively seeking to curb Moscow’s and Beijing’s sway.
Particularly striking is France’s intensified engagement with Kazakhstan. Amid strained ties between Astana and Moscow, Macron has been quick to signal France’s readiness to replace Russia as Kazakhstan’s strategic partner. French firms have been pouring investments into Kazakhstan’s oil industry, transportation infrastructure, and renewable energy sector. Seeing Kazakhstan’s growing commitment to a multi-vector foreign policy, Paris is eager to entrench itself in key areas of the country’s economy.
But France’s diplomatic zeal isn’t just about economic gain — it’s also a calculated effort to exploit regional tensions. Macron is leveraging Central Asia’s political turbulence to disrupt these nations’ traditional alliances. While Paris promotes itself as a “neutral player,” its actions increasingly resemble a well-orchestrated game — one where France is eager to dictate the rules.
For Azerbaijan, France’s sudden push into post-Soviet territories rings alarm bells. Macron has repeatedly displayed hostility toward Baku, backing Armenia’s narrative in the South Caucasus and meddling in the regional peace process. Now, France is extending its ambitions into Central Asia, using investments and diplomatic gestures as tools for pressure and political expansion.
Paris paints itself as a sophisticated mediator, but behind the smiles and symbolic speeches lies cold calculation and a thirst for influence. France isn’t just signing economic deals — it’s driving a wedge between Central Asian nations and their traditional partners. By weakening Moscow, Beijing, and Ankara’s influence, Macron is also positioning France to gather allies for advancing its agenda in international organizations. For Paris, Central Asia isn’t just another emerging market — it’s a springboard for expanding its geopolitical footprint, wrapped in the language of friendship and equality.
In this high-stakes game, France is throwing everything into the mix — from symbolic gestures to hefty financial investments, from diplomatic flattery to backroom scheming. And that’s precisely why regional leaders should be wary: France’s self-serving interests are becoming harder to disguise as “mutually beneficial cooperation.”
One of the key outcomes of Mirziyoyev’s visit was the signing of an investment program worth €6.5 billion — a clear sign that France is serious about embedding itself in Uzbekistan’s economy for the long haul. Additionally, a joint declaration on strategic partnership and plans to establish an Uzbek-French university were inked, underscoring Paris’ determination to tighten its grip on the region.
In a particularly revealing move, French energy giant Voltalia secured a 25-year contract to supply electricity as part of a major renewable energy cluster featuring solar and wind farms, along with energy storage systems. This aligns with Uzbekistan’s decarbonization goals — but it also plants France firmly in a strategic sector crucial to Tashkent’s energy future.
France’s heightened interest in Uzbekistan’s energy sector is especially significant given Tashkent’s increasing demand for nuclear power. French energy giant Électricité de France (EDF) is actively bidding for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan, signaling Paris’ ambition to secure a stake in the region’s energy landscape. With Russia already advancing its small nuclear power plant project in Uzbekistan, France’s involvement could trigger direct competition over this strategically vital sector.
Mirziyoyev’s visit also coincided with the EU-Central Asia summit in Samarkand — a timing that underscored the political weight of the moment. The European Union is doubling down on efforts to strengthen its foothold in a region traditionally dominated by Russia and China. As one of the EU’s key players, France is determined to take a leading role in that process.
Equally notable is Paris’ ambition to counterbalance Britain, which has been aggressively expanding its influence in Central Asia through Kazakhstan. For France, Uzbekistan has become a convenient platform to flex its geopolitical muscles in the region.
Macron’s Central Asia charm offensive may be wrapped in talk of friendship and cooperation, but beneath the surface, it’s a textbook case of calculated power play — one designed to reshape regional alliances and advance France’s global ambitions.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev stressed that the nuclear power project should have an "international character," signaling Uzbekistan’s intent to avoid over-reliance on a single technological partner. This statement provides France with additional leverage to push forward its initiatives in the country.
Uzbekistan’s strategic position in Central Asia, combined with its status as the region’s most populous nation — home to roughly 36 million people — makes it a particularly attractive partner for major powers eager to tap into Central Asia’s markets and resources.
Furthermore, Uzbekistan plays a crucial role in ensuring viable transit routes — a particularly important factor amid the ongoing crisis of traditional trade pathways between China and Europe via Russia. In this context, France sees Uzbekistan as a vital link in shaping alternative trade corridors.
Emmanuel Macron’s foreign policy ambitions in Central Asia are driven not only by economic interests but also by his desire to elevate France’s standing on the global stage. With growing competition from China, Russia, and the United States, Macron is positioning France as an independent power with its own strategic interests in the region.
Securing stronger ties with Uzbekistan is particularly important for Macron as he seeks to counterbalance the growing influence of London in Central Asia. Kazakhstan, which has deepened its partnership with the UK, is actively positioning itself as the region’s key representative on the global stage. However, Uzbekistan’s rising diplomatic aspirations put Tashkent in a position to compete for a similar role — making it an increasingly valuable partner for Paris.
Mirziyoyev’s visit to Paris and the signing of major agreements highlight France’s growing interest in Central Asia as a new arena of geopolitical rivalry. France is actively pursuing energy and education projects in Uzbekistan, hoping to cement its influence in the region. By aligning with Uzbekistan’s multi-vector foreign policy ambitions, France has carved out a promising foothold. However, mounting competition from Russia, China, and the UK sets the stage for a complex geopolitical chess game — one in which Tashkent may emerge as a pivotal player capable of balancing between global powers.
The deepening ties between France and Kazakhstan in 2024–2025 go beyond routine business relations — they are shaping up to be a strategic alliance that raises serious concerns among regional players, including Azerbaijan. Behind the glowing trade figures and diplomatic pleasantries lies a calculated geopolitical maneuver designed to secure France’s foothold in Central Asia, with Kazakhstan as its linchpin.
Economic cooperation between France and Kazakhstan has scaled up dramatically in recent years. In 2024 alone, bilateral trade surged by 45%, while French investments in Kazakhstan’s economy jumped 15%, reaching $900 million. These numbers are more than just a reflection of economic interest — they reveal France’s deeper strategy to expand its influence in a region traditionally dominated by Russia and China.
Particularly concerning is the aggressive entry of French corporations into Kazakhstan’s market. Today, more than 200 French companies operate in the country, including energy and transportation giants like Total, Alstom, and Airbus. These firms are doing more than building commercial ties — they are laying the groundwork for closer political alignment between Kazakhstan and the West.
One of the defining moments in this growing partnership was Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to France in November 2024 — a diplomatic high point that capped off Paris’ sustained efforts to strengthen its presence in Central Asia. The signing of 36 agreements worth $2.2 billion underscored France’s ambitions to turn Kazakhstan into a strategic outpost for its regional influence.
Energy remains a focal point of this cooperation. Kazakhstan has long been a major supplier of oil and uranium to the European Union, and France is actively working to maintain that reliance while advancing alternative energy projects. Total Energies’ $1.1 billion investment in a wind farm in Kazakhstan, while framed as an environmental initiative, is a strategic move designed to deepen Europe’s energy dependence on Kazakhstan.
Equally significant was the January 2024 signing of a so-called Special Agreement on Climate Change Cooperation. This deal effectively grants French corporations unprecedented access to energy projects in Kazakhstan, alongside exclusive investment privileges — a major win for Paris in its bid to expand economic dominance.
France is also stepping up its presence in Kazakhstan’s transport and logistics sector, a move with far-reaching geopolitical implications. French companies are investing heavily in modernizing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route — a vital corridor linking China to Europe via Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. This trade route is a key artery in regional supply chains, and France’s active involvement signals its determination to exploit this strategic advantage, even at the cost of regional players’ interests.
Agriculture is another area where French influence is on the rise. In 2024, Kazakhstan and France signed agreements on livestock development and horse meat exports. French companies are now exploring opportunities to improve Kazakhstan’s livestock genetics, reinforcing Paris’ deeper ambitions to shape Kazakhstan’s agricultural policy from within.
Cultural diplomacy has also played a role in strengthening ties. The November 2024 opening of the “Kazakhstan: Treasures of the Great Steppe” exhibition at the Guimet Museum of Asian Arts in Paris was more than just a showcase of Kazakh heritage — it was a symbolic gesture underscoring Kazakhstan’s deeper integration into Europe’s cultural landscape.
France’s aggressive push into Kazakhstan is no accident. Amid Europe’s growing instability and rising tensions with Russia, Paris is working hard to expand its influence in Central Asia, leveraging economic ties as a tool for political control. Kazakhstan, for its part, risks becoming increasingly constrained by Western powers as it walks the tightrope between East and West.
For Azerbaijan, this growing partnership between France and Kazakhstan presents not only economic challenges but also geopolitical risks. Closer ties between Paris and Astana could embolden France to interfere in developments in the South Caucasus, amplifying pressure on Baku in matters of regional security and energy policy.
In this context, the France-Kazakhstan partnership is far more than just a string of trade deals and investment projects. It is a carefully crafted political strategy that could shift the balance of power in Central Asia and directly impact Azerbaijan’s strategic interests and those of its regional allies.
By expanding its influence in Central Asia, France is operating not merely as an economic player but as an ambitious geopolitical manipulator seeking to gain control over a strategically vital region. Beneath the rhetoric of “friendly cooperation,” Macron and his administration are methodically working to undermine the position of traditional regional powers, including Russia, China, and Turkey. This power play carries serious implications for the South Caucasus, where Paris has long pursued an aggressive policy against Azerbaijan’s interests.
France’s growing presence in Central Asia is not just about expanding trade ties or cultural influence. It’s a large-scale operation aimed at embedding itself in key economic and political sectors, giving Paris the leverage to pressure local elites and ruling circles. By presenting itself as an “alternative partner” to Central Asian nations, France is masking a cynical calculation — its investments, educational initiatives, and cultural outreach are less about fostering regional development and more about advancing the strategic ambitions of the Élysée Palace.
For Azerbaijan, this shifting landscape demands heightened vigilance. France, which has repeatedly demonstrated hostility toward Baku, is actively seeking to build alliances with nations that could be exploited in future geopolitical maneuvers in the South Caucasus. By forging stronger ties with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Paris may attempt to influence energy projects, transportation routes, and political developments in the region. Moreover, Macron’s diplomatic offensive is clearly designed to weaken the roles of Turkey and China — both key allies of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan’s diplomatic strategy must account for these risks, pursuing a multi-layered approach to safeguard its interests. Strengthening economic and political ties with Turkey, enhancing cooperation with Central Asian nations on an equal footing, and actively engaging in international organizations will enable Baku to counter France’s disruptive moves.
While France attempts to impose its own agenda, Azerbaijan has repeatedly shown its ability to respond effectively and defend its national interests. Macron may continue to stage theatrical performances and attempt to charm Central Asian leaders with his signature French finesse, but Azerbaijan’s diplomacy must remain poised to dismantle these illusions and protect the country’s strategic priorities in the evolving geopolitical landscape.