The US is helping Central Asia to abandon trade with the Russian Federation.

During his visit to Kazakhstan, the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, emphasized that the US is closely monitoring Russia’s attempts to circumvent sanctions through Central Asia and expressed concern that Russia is obtaining microchips and other technology through imports from its neighbors. Blinken said that the Biden administration will allocate an additional $25M to help Central Asian countries diversify trade relations and export routes. In addition, the US has granted licenses that can help companies in the region to conclude these activities and sever ties with Russia. Kazakhstan does not want its territory to be used to circumvent sanctions, the country’s Foreign Minister, Mukhtar Tleuberdi, said at a joint briefing with Blinken. US officials monitor sanctions evasion and are optimistic that the region, long economically integrated with Russia, is showing some signs of disengagement.