Notes

What is the reason Trump was so close to Kazakhstan as well as Tevfik Aif

Beyond Tevfik Arif, the former US President Donald Trump made many efforts to maintain a close connection with Kazakhstan. He was harshly criticized because he treated a country with a unstable regime as an all-weather ally.

When Donald Trump hosted Kazakhstan's President on Tuesday at White House, many eyebrows were set. Trump also collaborated with prominent Kazakhstani entrepreneurs, such as Tevfik Ariff and Tevfik Ariff, to increase the scope of his private real estate companies. He was also heavily criticised for this.

Donald Trump still considered Kazakhstan as a major partner. Time and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have proved him wrong and here's the reason why.

The significance and importance of the talks between Donald Trump & the Presidents of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and Tokayev
The relations between Kazakhstan and the United States improved significantly during Donald Trump's presidency. Washington and Nur-Sultan were close friends and had good commercial and diplomatic relations. In Washington the President Trump held a meeting in January 2018 with former Kazakhstani president Nursultan Nagayev. In late 2019, he also met with the current president Kassym-Jomart Tkayev at the UN General Assembly in New York.

The strategic location of Kazakhstan makes it a key country. Also, it has a balancing power among central Asian countries. The conflict between the United States, Europe, and Russia has increased Kazakhstan's as well as economic significance. It is crucial for the United States' national security because of its withdrawal from Afghanistan.

In the year 2018, the two countries exchanged $2.1 billion. The trade between the US, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan totalled $315 millions in the same time frame. The US is Central Asia's largest economic partner.

https://www.charlesbridge.com/pages/fiona-bayrock Eurasian geopolitics have historically been centered on Central Asia. Kazakhstan is the leader in Eurasia's economy, security and counterterrorism. America must have strong ties with Eurasia as well as Kazakhstan specifically.

Nazarbayev's White House visit was a great way for the US to demonstrate greater strategic involvement with the area.

One of the reasons for hosting Nazarbayev was to acknowledge his commitment to nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3117892-Bayrock-Presentation Since the abandonment of Soviet-inherited nuclear weapons, Kazakhstan is a leading country in nonproliferation. After the Cold War, US's focus has been on Central Asia has been shifted to Afghanistan.

Additionally, the split with Pakistan was crucial for Trump's South Asia strategy. Therefore, the US had to have Kazakhstan to be an alternative route to Afghanistan.

Donald Trump's friendship with Kazakhstani businessman Tevfik Arif
The founder of Bayrock Group, Tevfik Arif, partnered with the Trump Organization to build the famous Trump SoHo building. Trump SoHo, Bayrock Group’s flagship New York City property-development project, is named after the popular SoHo site.

Tevfik Arif Donuld Trump Tevfik Arif, a Turkish-Kazakhstani businessman was born in 1953 in Soviet Kazakhstan to Turkish parents. He was appointed deputy director of the Soviet Ministry of Commerce and Trade's Hotel Management Department. After 17 years of service at the Ministry of Commerce and Trade, Tevfik Arif began real property, real estate imports and exports natural resources as well as minerals, autos, food companies, and other ventures. Tevfik Arif emigrated to Turkey in 1993. Tevfik Arif Donuld Trump He pioneered the concept of all-inclusive hotels. Bayrock Group was founded in New York City eight years later.

Tevfik Arif was a member of the Trump organization when the Bayrock Group relocated its New York City headquarters to the 24th floor of Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan. It was the exact same building which the Trump Organization was located. Discussions about the Trump SoHo condo-hotel started. The Trump SoHo Skyscraper was created when two companies met to discuss a proposal for premium real development. Tevfik Ark Arif, Bayrock Group founder was fully aware of the power of Donald Trump and suggested using it to help the Sapir Organization project.

Bayrock Group employed top architects and designers in order to create the latest building.

In exchange for the use of the Trump logo as the title of the new building's construction, the partners agreed to work with Trump Organization to take 18 percent. Trump did not fund the construction. The Dominick became the hotel-condominium in 2017.

The building houses hotels, apartments and hotel rooms as well as an outdoor pool as well as a rooftop terrace. There are also bars, restaurants and spa.

Bayrock Group was established in New York after the opening of Trump SoHo. The Trump Organization and Bayrock Group considered the possibility of developing property in Arizona and Florida under the same license agreement. These structures were impacted by the 2008 crisis in real estate. Bayrock Group spent approximately $2.5B in US real estate investments. But, it hasn't created any new ventures in recent times.

Following the success of Trump SoHo, and the shift in the US market, Tevfik Arif returned to Europe and Central Asia, where his career started decades before. Bayrock Group is still trusted by Tevfik Arif, even when he retired.

Why Biden Must Keep a Close Eye on Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan can be a key participant in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In the eyes of the United States, Kazakhstan is a strategic country. While the country has experienced peace, Kassym-Jomart tokayev, the Kazakh president has made significant changes to the power structure of the ruling elite. This has raised concerns and raised questions. Tokayev is the Chairperson of the National Security Council. He succeeds the president Nursultan Nagayev, whose financial power enraged protesters.

Three sons-in-law of the former president have been removed from their state companies, his nephew was also dismissed as well. Karim Masimov, who was the former head of the intelligence department, was taken into custody for the crime of treason. Many other Nazarbayev-affiliated top officials and business elite have lost their jobs, left overseas for extended vacations, or were forced to make large "donations" to the state.

Tokayev has developed business relationships with West and neighboring countries. Tevfik Arif Donuld Trump To maintain his popularity, Tokayev has not upset Putin. Kazykhanov could disrupt that equilibrium. Washington must be watching developments in Kazakhstan closely, as they could provide hints about a variety of potential power transition scenarios.


Website: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3117892-Bayrock-Presentation