On November 14, 2024, an international roundtable was held in Astana to address transnational threats affecting Kazakhstan and the European Union (EU). The event was organized by the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Central Asia, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.
The roundtable included participation of Dauren Aben, Head of the Department of International Security at the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KazISS), and Mukhit Assanbayev, Chief Expert of the Department.
The event aimed to facilitate an exchange of expert opinions and knowledge on common security threats, including terrorism, extremism, illicit arms trafficking, drug trafficking, human trafficking, illegal migration, smuggling, and other forms of transnational organized crime. During the discussion, participants reviewed lessons learned in countering these threats to further develop joint response strategies and mitigate their impact. Special attention was given to security and stability challenges emanating from Afghanistan.
In his presentation, Mukhit Assanbayev highlighted the growing propaganda influence of the terrorist group “Islamic State–Khorasan” on individuals from Central Asia, which has led to an increase in their recruitment as militants. He noted that radicalization of followers of jihadist movements occurs not within the countries of the region but abroad.
Dauren Aben addressed the prospects for further cooperation between Kazakhstan and the EU in combating traditional and emerging transnational threats. He outlined priority areas for collaboration, including border strengthening, counter-terrorism, combating violent extremism, and engagement with Afghanistan.
In addition to KazISS experts, the roundtable featured representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in Astana, international organizations, government agencies, and research-analytical institutions of Kazakhstan. Key speakers at the plenary session included Roman Vassilenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan; Aleska Simkic, EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan; and Nico Schermers, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Central Asia.
