Astana, 27 October. US President Donald Trump, in a congratulatory telegram to the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, on Republic Day, wrote that he looked forward to meeting him at the Group of Twenty (G20) summit in December, the Akorda press office said.
In the telegram Trump said he was proud of how the two countries had deepened their partnership over the past year, from cooperation on international peace and security to landmark commercial agreements benefiting both countries. He recalled that in 1991 the United States was the first to recognise Kazakhstan as a sovereign state and wrote that Washington's commitment to Kazakhstan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity remained unwavering. American companies, he said, have played and will continue to play an important role in Kazakhstan's economic success.
The G20 brings together the world's largest economies and the European Union; Kazakhstan is not a member. The presidency may invite guests, and in 2026 the presidency belongs to the United States: the leaders' summit will be held in December in Miami. The line in the holiday telegram is the first public sign that Kazakhstan is expected at the summit; Akorda did not say in what capacity or on which days.
As Ulysmedia recalls, Tokayev has said that Kazakhstan intends to present proposals on the international regulation of artificial intelligence at the meeting, backed Trump's idea of an agreement on the safe development of so-called superintelligence and suggested considering a "Washington model" as a possible basis for a UN treaty.
What it means: In a holiday greeting Washington has in effect confirmed Kazakhstan's invitation to the US-chaired G20. For Astana it is a platform to bring its own AI initiative before the leaders of the largest economies.
Who benefits: Kazakhstan: a seat at a summit the country does not usually attend and a chance to promote its AI proposals. The United States: support from a partner in Central Asia, where Washington competes with Russia and China for influence. The telegram does not list the "landmark commercial agreements" Trump had in mind.
Background: Akorda publishes congratulations on Republic Day, celebrated on 25 October, as they arrive; it released Trump's telegram on 27 October, the day after Tokayev thanked foreign leaders for their greetings. Kazakhstan is also preparing to open a consular office in Houston.
We have also reported that Kazakhstan will open a consular office in Houston.
