Central Asia: Does Japan Claim Influence in the Region?
Nightingale Int. is pleased to highlight the recent expert contribution of our Fellow, Sobir Kurbanov, to a comprehensive report by Deutsche Welle (DW) regarding the historic “Central Asia + Japan” Summit held in Tokyo on December 20, 2025.
As Tokyo shifts its long-standing “soft power” approach toward a high-level strategic partnership, Japan has committed to investing 3 trillion yen (approximately €16.5 billion) into the region over the next five years.
Key Insights from Sobir Kurbanov
In his commentary for DW, Sobir Kurbanov provided a deep dive into the geopolitical and economic motivations driving this intensified cooperation.
1. Strategic Timing and Resource Security
Kurbanov noted that the geopolitical shifts resulting from the war in Ukraine have significantly elevated Central Asia’s global importance. He emphasized that Japan is moving beyond traditional diplomacy to secure practical interests, specifically highlighting Tokyo’s focus on accessing rare earth metals and securing critical supply chains.
2. Quality Over Quantity: The Japanese Advantage
While Central Asia is a crowded field featuring major players like China, Russia, and the EU, Kurbanov argues that Japan holds a unique competitive edge. Unlike some regional investors whose projects face criticism over transparency, Japan offers “high-quality investment.”
Japanese investments come with a higher standard of international norms—corporate governance, compliance, business ethics, transparency, and strict adherence to environmental and social standards, Kurbanov told DW.
3. Japan as a “Strategic Broker”
Beyond direct investment, Kurbanov envisions a broader role for Tokyo. He suggests that Japan could act as a political and investment broker, connecting Central Asia with the dynamic economies of Southeast Asia—a link that is currently underdeveloped but holds immense potential.
4. The Necessity of Regional Integration
Kurbanov also stressed that for Central Asia to maximize the benefits of Japanese interest, the region must overcome its internal fragmentation. He noted that a unified market with open borders and harmonized trade regulations is essential to attracting the large-scale external capital that Tokyo is prepared to provide.
About the Summit
The summit concluded with the adoption of the Tokyo Declaration, prioritizing three pillars of cooperation:
- Green growth and sustainability.
- Connectivity and infrastructure.
- Human resource development.
Read the full article (in Russian) on Deutsche Welle: Central Asia: Does Japan Claim Influence in the Region?