In the context of increasing geopolitical instability, international law is losing its role as an effective tool for deterrence. This conclusion was reached by experts at a round table dedicated to global trends in Central Asia, titled "Global Trends in Central Asia: From Security Provision to Extraction of Critical Minerals."
The Director of the Center for Expert Initiatives, political scientist Igor Shestakov, emphasized that the beginning of 2026 has become significant for the international agenda. "The abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by American military forces marks a new chapter in Donald Trump's foreign policy actions. This event demonstrates that international law has turned into a theoretical discipline, while actual intervention allows Washington to control the largest global reserves of oil and gas without the need for significant investments," he noted.
Shestakov also expressed doubts about the fate of Chinese ($50 billion) and Russian ($15 billion) investments in Venezuela, pointing out that control over resources is now entirely in the hands of the U.S. This situation is particularly significant for Central Asia, where Moscow and Beijing remain the leading partners. "We have repeatedly warned that the U.S.-China confrontation will affect our region. The U.S. cannot maintain its leadership while remaining dependent on China for critical raw materials. The government and the Jogorku Kenesh need to develop norms that will ensure direct benefits for our country, not for Washington," he added.
System analyst Murat Musabaev agreed that modern trends should be viewed in the context of global redistribution of property. "The U.S. is starting to transform into the 'United States of the World.' In anticipation of the expected stock market crash in 2029, investment funds are eager to convert their virtual assets into tangible ones—gold, land, and deposits. They clearly understand what they need from us and impose their conditions," he explained.
According to Musabaev, events in Venezuela, Greenland, and Ukraine are part of a unified plan by transnational funds to seize resources. "The situation will soon change, and when macroeconomic zones emerge, we need to clearly define who we will work with. Washington and London should clearly not become our allies," he concluded.
Anara Dautalieva, head of the NGO "Taza Tabigat," also raised the issue of resource sovereignty, reminding that according to legislation, subsoil resources belong to the people. "Preserving resources for future generations should be our top priority. In a few decades, technologies will become safer. Complete closure of mining is impossible, but our resources should benefit the people, not satisfy the interests of foreign investors," she noted.
As an example of the negative impact of foreign companies, she cited the situation with "Kumtor," where environmental standards were ignored, and royalties were not paid. "Royalties are essentially a 'tribute to the king.' The paradox is that local residents pay taxes even for drinking water, while the company Centerra, which made huge profits, has not contributed a single tyiyn," Dautalieva expressed her outrage.
Arkadiy Rogalskiy, executive director of the Kyrgyz Society of Subsoil Experts, confirmed that information about the industry's revenues is becoming more accessible; however, government agencies need to be more transparent regarding budget expenditures. He highlighted waste management as a key task. "Most resources are not in primary deposits but in tailings. We have 123 hazardous sites on record, as well as about 400 unsystematized dumps. When it comes to critical materials, we should start with inventory and processing of tailings," he assured.
Almaz Nasirov, director of the Institute for Strategic Analysis and Forecasting at KRSU, added that the new race for resources is changing Central Asia's status from a peripheral region to a key player on the global stage. "This is not just an economic issue, but a question of geo-economics. The transition to 'green' energy significantly increases demand for our minerals. However, for small countries like Kyrgyzstan, there are serious technological limitations. We need to develop a quality investment model to avoid situations where projects do not benefit the country from the outset. Having resources is good, but it is important to understand how ready we are to integrate into the global supply chain and what benefits this will bring," Nasirov summarized.
This event was organized by the Center for Expert Initiatives "Oy Ordo" in collaboration with the Council for Sustainable Development in the Context of Climate Change under the Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic.
