Energy, nuclear power, trade, and infrastructure are bringing Moscow and Astana closer together Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Kazakhstan carries significance well beyond the immediate agenda of bilateral talks. As his second state visit to the country in just two years – an unusual frequency for the highest level of diplomatic engagement – it reflects the depth of relations between Moscow and Astana and the durability of a strategic partnership that has remained a defining feature of the regional landscape. The visit comes at a moment when Central Asia is attracting growing attention from external powers and Kazakhstan continues to expand its diplomatic engagement with China, Türkiye, the European Union, and the United States.…