EU's Samarkand charm offensive lacks wow factor
Central Asia wants firm deals on critical minerals, and soon. The Europeans believe they have a tempting proposition.
Ursula von der Leyen opened her speech in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with a pearl of wisdom fit for stencilling on the wall of an Airbnb flat.
“It was the great explorer of the past, Ibn Batuta, who said: ‘travel leaves you speechless.’ And that was after visiting Samarkand,” the Euro…
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