Cameron admits Putin is using central Asia to dodge Western sanctions

David Cameron has admitted Russia is using central Asia to dodge Western sanctions following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Foreign Secretary used a visit to countries in the region, known as ‘The Stans’, to urge them to work with Britain to halt Russia’s ability to ‘feed its war machine’.

Lord Cameron’s trip will see him become the first British Foreign Secretary to visit Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and the first to visit Uzbekistan since 1997.

His will also be the first visit to Mongolia by such a senior UK minister in over a decade.

The Foreign Secretary’s tour comes amid concerns about a recent spike in sales of drone equipment and heavy machinery from Britain to countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

British exports to Kyrgyzstan, the small former Soviet satellite state, were found to have risen by more than 1,100 per cent.

Foreign Secretary David Cameron is welcomed upon his arrival in Bishkek, Tajikistan during his five-day tour of central Asia

Lord Cameron is greeted by dancers as he arrives for a visit to the Nurek Hydro-Electric Project in Nurek, Tajikistan

The Foreign Secretary visited the Ata Beyit memorial for victims of Russian aggression in Bishkek

Speaking in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Lord Cameron said Britain was talking to central Asian countries about the so-called ‘common high-priority list’ of Western items critical to Russian weapons systems.

He told ITV News: ‘We have a very good relationship with the government here and in other countries in central Asia and we’re able to talk to them about what we call the common high priority list – the things that Russia wants to feed its war machine.

‘Of course we are not against trade between Kyrgyzstan and Russia – it is natural that it should happen.

‘But it shouldn’t be these items are being exported here and then re-exported into Russia, simply building Russia’s war machine, without there being much advantage for Kyrgyzstan.

‘So we’re going to be working with the government to try to put a stop to that.’

The Foreign Secretary added the world is ‘undoubtedly a more dangerous place’ than when he was PM, with ‘the lights on the global dashboard flashing red’.

‘This is a more dangerous, more difficult, more disputed, more competitive world,’ he said.

‘There are things we must do to strengthen our defences… our protections against interference, but also we strengthen our alliances – hold friends close and build new alliances as I’m doing here.’

Lord Cameron pictured shaking hands with Kyrgyz foreign minister Jeenbek Kulubaev

Lord Cameron’s trip will see him become the first British Foreign Secretary to visit Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and the first to visit Uzbekistan since 1997

In a meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon at the Palace of the Nation in Dushanbe, Lord Cameron said there was ‘more we can do’ to co-operate on key areas such as business, climate change and counter-terrorism.

‘I’m delighted to be the first Foreign Secretary to visit your country. I’m only sorry that it’s taken so long for one to come,’ he told President Rahmon in the Tajik capital.

‘We want to signal a new era in relations between Britain and all of the central Asia republics, starting here in Tajikistan.

‘Overall, we’re here to say let’s make the partnership bigger, let’s do more things together.’

Following bilateral meetings with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and foreign minister Jeenbek Kulubayev, the Foreign Secretary said he believed the trip was ‘the start of something very serious’.

Lord Cameron was also asked by independent local journalists whether he raised the issue of press freedom and civics in his talks with the leader amid concerns of a crackdown on civil society groups and non-state media in the region.

He said they discussed ‘all of the issues you’d expect us to’ including ‘the importance of voluntary bodies, charities, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations – they’re part of our countries, part of our democracies’.

‘Of course we should always respect each others’ differences and each others’ approaches, but in my view civil society organisations, they play a role in helping democracies work better,’ the Foreign Secretary added.

The Foreign Secretary said: ‘We live in a contested, competitive world. If you want to protect and promote British interests you need to get out there and compete.

‘Central Asia is at the epicentre of some of the biggest challenges we face and it’s vital for the UK and the region that we drive forward its future prosperity.’

In talks with leaders from across the region, Lord Cameron will seek to ‘advance discussions on sanctions circumvention, human rights and reform’, the Foreign Office said.

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