Republished with full copyright permissions from The Boston News Tribune.

Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Alicia Kearns MP, recently highlighted the growing significance of Central Asia and Mongolia, as demonstrated by the visit of Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron to the region. Lord Cameron’s visit underlines the findings of the Foreign Affairs Committee’s report “Countries at Crossroads: UK Engagement in Central Asia,” which emphasized the need for higher-level ministerial involvement and visits from key government officials to the region.

The report, published in November 2023, stressed the potential mutual benefits and geopolitical importance of deepening UK engagement in Central Asia. It provided a call-to-action for tailored approaches to engagement with each country in the region to promote their independence. In response, Lord Cameron announced a substantial £50 million funding allocation to support the sovereignty and autonomy of states across Central Asia.

Furthermore, the Committee’s report urged the expansion of Chevening scholarships for students from Central Asian countries, emphasizing the need for additional resources for the British Council. During his visit, Lord Cameron announced a doubling of funding for Chevening scholarships, allowing more students to study at British universities. He also outlined a commitment to enhancing opportunities for young people and ensuring access to tailored materials through the British Council.

Alicia Kearns MP stressed the importance of Lord Cameron’s acknowledgment of the exploitation of Central Asian states by Russian elites to evade sanctions, which aligns with the Committee’s plea for the UK to address illicit finance and sanctions evasion. She emphasized the need for a robust sanction regime against Putin to effectively safeguard the independence of Central Asian countries.

In addition to financial support, cultural ties with Central Asian countries were highlighted as crucial in the report. It reiterated the call for an increase in Chevening scholars and adequate resources for the British Council. Lord Cameron’s announcement of increased funding for Chevening scholars and a push to enhance English language skills and access to British Council resources reflects a tangible step towards strengthening cultural connections.