Analysis / Next Gen CommunityKazakhstan Chose Russia and China for Its Reactors. Washington Wasn’t Even in the Room.ByAlexei (Frank) HoffmanPublished Feb 24, 2026Kazakhstan’s June 2025 decision to award its first three nuclear power plants to Russia’s Rosatom and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) exposes a blind spot in U.S. strategy toward Central Asia.