Since the dawn of the twenty-first century, as the nations of the world deepened their interdependence, there has been a profound geopolitical and economic shift towards Asia, leading to it being dubbed by many as the “Asian Century”.
The rise of this continent—home to around 60% of the world’s population—as a leading force in international affairs and the global economy has been catalysed by rapid economic growth, technological advancement and shifting power balances. This backdrop comes with key geopolitical implications that have challenged the recent traditional world order, led by the West.
Incumbent powerhouses, particularly the increasingly (dis)United States and European nations, are re-evaluating their strategies as the balance of power shifts eastward and increased attention is being paid towards the BRICS nations, among others. The competition for technological supremacy, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, has intensified, necessitating new and both collaborative and competitive approaches to diplomacy.
WHERE TECHNOLOGY WIELDS POWER
In the emerging new global landscape, a country is as much defined by the dynamism and innovation of its private sector as it is by the strength of its military, its place on international bodies or the influence of the government of the day. Soft and hard power opportunities are increasingly being created by large tech companies, investment funds and research laboratories in a manner akin to state actors.
The Covid-19 pandemic has clearly laid bare the need for solutions to key challenges around ageing populations, youth unemployment, financial inclusion, health equity and much more. Innovation and investment in these areas will accelerate for years to come, with increased urgency and opportunities in the post-pandemic world. But while solving so-called “wicked problems” and addressing complex interconnected societal challenges used to be the province of government and philanthropy, technology innovation and new venture creation are now increasingly seen as the most effective ways to change trajectories.
In this new age, a multi-stakeholder approach that brings together the private, public and civil society sectors is needed; and as the global balance of power shifts, international collaboration on common challenges and shared interests is equally essential.
Issues such as climate change do not discriminate between borders and cannot be solved by a few countries alone but necessitate a coordinated approach. A global economy that is so bifurcated and siloed that superpowers work against each other is too expensive for our planet to bear.
By leveraging technology, nations can collaborate more effectively, share information and develop innovative solutions. Within this landscape, the significance of techplomacy, the fusion of technology and diplomacy, has become critical.
Coined first by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2017 when they announced the world’s first ‘Tech Ambassador’ in Silicon Valley, this term now expresses what is crucially needed, and increasingly undertaken, to address issues such as climate change, cybersecurity, public health crises and much more.
At the crossroads of East and West, a new ‘digital Silk Road’ is taking shape
A PIVOTAL REGION
A key trend of the past few decades is a shift from globalisation to more regionalisation with the emergence of several heterogeneous blocs. It is important to note that Asia’s strength lies not in uniformity but in the dynamism of its many unique economies and innovation hubs, as well as its various different political landscapes. Whilst most attention to date has been paid to China and India, as well as developed nations such as Japan and South Korea and rapidly emerging countries like Indonesia and Vietnam, there are huge opportunities elsewhere in Asia which require a more nuanced approach.
Notably, in an era shaped by technological transformation and evolving trade relations, a vast region with shared cultural values, spanning the Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and Turkic countries1 in Central Asia and the Caucasus, is experiencing rapid changes. At the crossroads of East and West, a new ‘digital Silk Road’ is taking shape in what was once a key segment of the historic Silk Road.
Favourable tailwinds in the region include its promising demographics, with the world’s largest youth population and more than half of its residents under 25—signaling potential for rapid growth in the burgeoning local technology ecosystems.
Over a dozen unicorns have emerged from the region and success stories such as Careem’s exit to Uber for $3.1 billion have helped change mindsets towards entrepreneurship and inspire the next generation of talent. Former Careem employees have started more than 250 companies, creating the region’s own ‘Paypal Mafia’. Major international investors including the likes of Sequoia Capital, Kleiner Perkins, amongst others, have made their first investments in the region in the past few years.
As traditionally natural-resource rich countries look to diversify their economies, the region is now home to some of the world’s most ambitious technology-driven development programmes, as exemplified by the likes of Saudi Arabia’s ‘Vision 2030.’ Some of the world’s most forward-looking nations in adopting artificial intelligence are found there. In 2020 the UAE appointed the world’s first AI minister; and while in 2024, Microsoft announced a $1.5 billion investment in Abu Dhabi-based AI firm G42, Saudi Arabia unveiled plans for an unprecedented $40 billion global investment fund dedicated to AI technologies. Similarly, Kazakhstan is also working towards building a National Artificial Intelligence Platform, which will include data from more than 90 sources, as part of its Digital Kazakhstan initiative.
Meanwhile, supporting the green energy transition, the World Bank, Abu Dhabi’s Masdar and the government of Uzbekistan recently signed a financial package to fund a 250-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic plant with a 63MW battery energy storage system for commercial scale battery storage. The project marks Central Asia’s first renewable energy initiative with an integrated BESS battery component.
Azerbaijan, which aims to generate 30% of its electricity via renewable energy sources by 2030, has launched the country’s biggest renewable energy investment project to date: the construction of two solar plants and a wind power plant, also working with Abu Dhabi’s Masdar and Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power.
Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Europe are advancing the “Azerbaijan-Türkiye-Europe” green energy corridor, aimed at exporting renewable energy and there is also the “Caspian-Black Sea-Europe Green Energy Corridor” project, also known as the “Black Sea Cable”.
In the defence tech space, in spite of periods of frosty relations between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, there has been a flurry of activity recently including Turkish firm Ramsa Defence partnering in a $120 million technology investment in Saudi Arabia and facilitating technology transfer. In addition to techplomacy within the region, there has been more outward international engagement for many years including with the UAE Space Agency’s Emirates Mars Mission where the spacecraft was assembled in the US and launched from Japan.
These examples demonstrate that many governments across MENA and Turkic countries (such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan to name a few standouts) now fully recognise technology as an essential enabler of rapid and profound changes in their domestic landscape—from transportation to education and beyond—but also as a geopolitical priority and a key focus area of their diplomacy.
If executed effectively, techplomacy in these countries could usher in a new Golden Age for a region that was once, for centuries, the global centre of learning and innovation.
The region’s governments must foster cross-border cooperation to enhance not only their national interests, but also contribute to a more peaceful, prosperous and interconnected world
CHALLENGES AND FULFILLING POTENTIAL
The geostrategic importance of the region, at the meeting point between Europe, Asia and Africa, has grown profoundly. When, in 2024, the BRICS exercised a large and historic expansion, the five countries invited—Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Iran and Ethiopia—all came from the region or its immediate neighbourhood. And the fact that three of the most recent COPs (the UN’s flagship Climate Conference) have taken place in the region (Egypt, the UAE and Azerbaijan in 2024) is testament to the international interest in this part of the world.
Yet, MENA and Turkic countries confront a myriad of geopolitical, social, economic and environmental challenges, placing the region at a critical crossroads today. As they navigate this transformative era, the region’s governments must foster cross-border cooperation to enhance not only their national interests, but also contribute to a more peaceful, prosperous and interconnected world. In doing so, they can unlock new avenues for prosperity, giving rise to a new Golden Age characterised by shared growth and sustained development.
As the legendary Apple founder Steve Jobs wrote, “innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity, not a threat.” If MENA and Turkic countries embrace change and adeptly leverage techplomacy, they stand to seize the benefits of technological advancements and become protagonists in shaping the unfolding narrative of this century.
By Abbas Kazmi
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