Ministers of Defence of Kazakhstan and Russia signed a Strategic Partnership Programme on Defence

On November 9 in Moscow, Sergei Shoigu, Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, and Murat Bektanov, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, signed the 2022–2024 Strategic Partnership Programme on Defence, furthering the provisions of the updated Military Cooperation Treaty between the two states. In addition to the programme, the ministers of defence approved the 2022 Cooperation Plan that clarifies the programme’s implementation.
“The 2022–2024 Bilateral Strategic Partnership Programme on Defence defines the priority areas of cooperation in the defence sphere for the medium term,” the Russian Ministry of Defence’s press service quotes Sergei Shoigu as saying.
Sergei Shoigu stressed that the relations between the armed forces of the two countries are strategic. “Despite all the difficulties, military cooperation between the military departments develops steadily, progressively and in strict accordance with the available plans and the changes that life brings, in particular, the Afghan issue,” the Russian Minister of Defence noted.
He expressed his gratitude for the support in maintenance of Russian military training grounds on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which is especially important at a time of rapid development and mastery of new weapons systems, and thanked Murat Bektanov for his assistance and support to Russian military cargo transit through the territory of the Republic.
The Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation recalled that Kazakh cadets study at Russian military academies, emphasizing that their level of education gives cadets the necessary knowledge to ensure the defence capabilities of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s armed forces and the maintenance of the common anti-aircraft defence system.
According to Sergei Shoigu, the common anti-aircraft defence system is solid and reliable. “Due to emerging new defence threats, this system must be improved and reinforced with trained young personnel,” Sergei Shoigu concluded.
In turn, Murat Bektanov, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, noted the importance of security issues of the CIS and CSTO States in the region, taking into account the Afghan issue.
“We are working in this area and assist our Tajik colleagues as best we can,” he said, noting that the situation in the region shows improvements. The minister also thanked his Russian colleagues for their help in organizing joint exercises within the framework of the International Army Games. According to him, the national military department carefully studies the combat experience of its Russian colleagues. Several bilateral exercises are planned for next year.
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