Country held rotating chairmanship of UN Security Council in Jan, having joined for first time as non-permanent member for 2017-2018. During visit to U.S., President Nazarbayev 16 Jan met with President Trump, discussed situation in Afghanistan and U.S.-Kazakh political and economic ties. Nazarbayev promised to continue providing logistical support and access for Western troops fighting terrorism; also pledged support for the “C5+1” format involving foreign ministers of the five Central Asian states plus U.S.. Russian foreign minister 15 Jan criticised C5+1 format for trying to exclude Russia.

Country late Nov took Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) rotating chairmanship; during handover in Minsk, President Nazarbayev met Kyrgyz President Jeenbekov, agreed to help solve border impasse; presidents met again in Astana 25 Dec. Almost 700 miners went on strike at ArcelorMittal-owned coal mine in Shakhtisnk, Karaganda province 11 Dec, demanding inter alia safety improvements and salary increase; regional administration 15 Dec announced 30% salary increase, said miners would not be prosecuted for striking illegally. National Security Committee chair 12 Dec told parliament that authorities prevented eleven terrorist attacks in 2017. U.S. court 20 Dec sentenced Kazakh citizen to fifteen years’ prison for conspiring to support Islamic State (ISIS).

Foreign ministers of five Central Asian states 10 Nov signed Program on Mutual Cooperation for 2018-2019 outlining joint efforts on security, trade and economic cooperation during EU-Central Asia summit in Uzbekistan.

After Kyrgyz President Atambayev accused President Nazarbayev of “meddling in Kyrgyz internal affairs” by inviting Kyrgyz opposition presidential candidate Omurbek Babanov to Almaty 19 Sept, Nazarbayev 10 Oct retaliated by tightening controls along Kazakh-Kyrgyz border. Move severely disrupted trade, but restrictions eased 18 Oct.

President Nazarbayev 16 Sept met with Uzbek President Mirziyoyev during official visit in Tashkent. Tensions increased with Kyrgyzstan after Nazarbayev met Kyrgyz opposition presidential candidate Omurbek Babanov in Almaty 19 Sept. Former PM Serik Akhmetov released from prison 21 Sept after being convicted on corruption charges in 2015.

President Nazarbayev 11 July signed new law enabling removal of citizenship for those convicted of crimes of genocide, separatist activities, and creation, management, or participation in extremist group. Addressing security services in Astana several days later, Nazarbayev said hybrid wars, religious radicalisation, cyber security are priority areas.

Country hosted seventeenth Summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Astana 8-9 June; UN Secretary-General Guterres attended as part of regional tour. EU Council 19 June published its conclusions on 2007 EU strategy for Central Asia; next strategy due 2019, with focus so far on strengthening dialogue on human rights and emerging security challenges.

President Nazarbayev 21 May met U.S. Sec State Rex Tillerson during summit of Muslim countries in Riyadh; Nazarbayev expressed hope that interaction between Kazakhstan and U.S. “will enter a qualitatively new level of development in many areas”, reported president’s office. Nazarbayev mid-month attended China’s high-level Belt and Road forum aimed at developing trade routes, specifically Silk Road Economic Belt initiative seeking to improve transport and energy infrastructure along two broad transport corridors in Central Asia.

Trial in abstentia of opposition leader Mukhtar Ablyazov on charges of embezzlement began 3 April in Almaty; France released Ablyazov 9 Dec 2016, cancelled his extradition to Russia citing political motivation behind request.

Parliament 6 March approved new constitutional amendments transferring 40 presidential powers to govt and parliament. Parliament will appoint members of govt; president will remain arbiter of all branches of power, appoint governors and maintain foreign policy, national security and military. President Nazarbayev 10 March signed amendments into law, day after they were approved by Constitutional Council.