Beyond Tevfik Arif the the former US President Donald Trump made many efforts to keep a close connection with Kazakhstan. Trump was widely criticized for his view that Kazakhstan was an ally despite its questionable regime. Many eyebrows were raised after Donald Trump hosted Kazakhstan's president on Tuesday in the White House. Trump also partnered prominent Kazakhstani businessmen like Tevfik Ark in his private real estate businesses. Trump was also heavily criticized for this. Donald Trump was right to think of Kazakhstan as a partner. https://www.businessamlive.com/tevfik-arif-shares-how-to-be-your-own-boss/ The conflict between Ukraine and Russia have shown him right. Here's why. The importance and significance of the meeting between Donald Trump & the Presidents of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and Tokayev The relations between Kazakhstan and the US were significantly improved during Donald Trump's presidency. Washington and Nur-Sultan in Kazakhstan's capital were both awash in diplomatic and commercial connections. They also met on a presidential level. In Washington the president Trump met with the ex- Kazakhstani leader Nursultan Nazabayev in the month of January 2018. In the second half of the year, he sat with Kassym Jomart Tkayev, Kazakhstan's present president. Kazakhstan is a major country due to its strategic geographical position. It is also the balancing force among central Asian nations. The United States, Europe and Russia have intensified Kazakhstan's strategic political and economic significance. It is also crucial for national security to the United States owing to its withdrawing from Afghanistan, which is one of the key neighbours of Kazakhstan. In 2018, the nations trade $2.1 billion. Commerce between the US, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan totaled $315 million in the same timeframe. Kazakhstan is the United States' top trade partner in Central Asia. Eurasian geopolitics is focused on Central Asia historically. Kazakhstan is the leader of Eurasia in security, economy as well as counterterrorism and energy. America requires close ties to the Eurasia region, and in particular Kazakhstan. The White House visit to Nazarbayev was a positive beginning for the US in its strategic engagement with the region. https://baltimorepostexaminer.com/football-leaks-hacker-facing-extradition-for-attempted-extortion-of-tevfik-arif-and-doyen-sports/2019/02/18 Nazarbayev's support for nuclear nonproliferation was just one of the reasons we hosted him. Kazakhstan, which has abandoned its Soviet-inherited weapons nuclear weapons is one of the leading countries in nonproliferation. After the Cold War, US focus on Central Asia has been restricted to Afghanistan. Trump's South Asia strategy required a break with Pakistan. Thus, the US had to have Kazakhstan to provide an alternative route to Afghanistan. Donald Trump's relationship with Kazakhstani businessman Tevfik Arif Tevfik the creator of Bayrock Group was partnered with Trump Organization to construct the iconic Trump SoHo building. Trump SoHo, Bayrock Group's flagship New York City property development project, was named after its renowned SoHo location. Tevfik Arif, a Turkish Kazakhstani businessman, was born in 1953 in Soviet Kazakhstan to Turkish parents. As the deputy head of the Soviet Ministry of Commerce and Trade He was the person in charge of the Hotel Management Department. After 17 years with the Ministry, Tevfik Aif founded real property and real estate development. He also handled the exports and imports of minerals, natural resources, automobiles, and food businesses. Tevfik Arif moved to Turkey in 1993. He was the first to pioneer all-inclusive hotels. Bayrock Group was founded in New York City eight years later. Tevfik Arkif met with the Trump organization during the Bayrock Group's New York City relocation to the 24th level of Trump Tower, Midtown Manhattan. https://londonlovesbusiness.com/start-in-real-estate-bayrock-groups-tevfik-arif/ The exact same building which the Trump Organization was located. https://midhudsonnews.com/2020/08/14/tevfik-arif-revealed-the-man-behind-bayrock-group-and-trump-soho/ The Trump SoHo condo and hotel were later discussed. After the two companies talked about a luxury real estate development strategy and then the Trump SoHo skyscraper was born. Bayrock Group founder Tevfik Arif recognized the strength of the Trump brand, so he suggested using it to promote the Sapir Organization's plan. Bayrock Group commissioned top architects and designers for the construction of this modern construction. The two partners agreed to offer the Trump Organization 18% ownership in exchange for using the Trump brand in the new construction's name. Trump did not contribute to the construction. The Dominick, a condo-hotel was built in the year 2017. https://www.hngn.com/articles/232156/20201001/exposed-tevfik-arif-s-bayrock-group-donald-trump-and-russia.htm The building has accommodation, hotel rooms as well as an outdoor pool and rooftop terrace. There are also bars, restaurants and a spa. Bayrock Group, the Trump Organization The Trump Organization, and the Bayrock Group met after Trump SoHo opened. They discussed developing real-estate in Florida and Arizona under similar license arrangements. This was made difficult by the 2008 real-estate crisis. Bayrock Group invested $2.5 billion US in US real estate holdings. The company hasn't yet launched any new project in the last few years. Tevfik, after Trump SoHo’s popularity and a shift in the US market, has returned home to Europe and Central Asia. This is where his decades-long career began. Tevfik Arif remains a trusted adviser to Bayrock Group after retiring from much of his daily responsibilities. Why Biden Should Have a Close Watch on Kazakhstan Kazakhstan could be a key player in the Russia-Ukraine war. Therefore, Kazakhstan has become an important strategically important country for the United States. The peace process is now in place for Kazakhstan and the Kazakh president Kassym Jomart Tokayev made important modifications to the power structures of the ruling class, which caused concern and questions. Tokayev's appointment to the position of National Security Council chairman, succeeding President Nursultan Nazarbayev whose economic influence outraged demonstrators and has attracted the most attention. Three children, in-laws and sons of the former president were fired by state-owned enterprises. The nephew of the president was also fired and Karim Masimov (ex-intelligence head) was arrested on suspicion of 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 established business relations with the West and neighboring countries. To keep his popularity, Tokayev has not upset Putin. Kazykhanov could disrupt this balance. As war rages in Ukraine, Washington should carefully monitor developments in Kazakhstan that could signal a variety of possible scenarios of power transitions that are both positive and negative.