Macron hopes trip to former Soviet states will secure uranium, counter Russia

French President Emmanuel Macron is to visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan next week, as France seeks to counter Russian influence in the former Soviet republics and strengthen economic ties in countries with high amounts of raw materials, including uranium. Announcing Macron’s visit on 1 and 2 November, the presidency said France wanted to help the two countries in their "reform and modernisation efforts" and to support their desire to "reinforce their links with Europe”.Kazakhstan’s President, Kas