This development came after the two countries announced on May 8 their intention to develop military installations in Kyrgyzstan, located in Central Asia, following a meeting between Putin and Kyrgyz President Sadr Jabarov.
Russia maintains a military base there consisting of an airport, a naval facility on Lake Issyk Kul, and several other locations.
And the Russian military buildup is taking place against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and serious tensions with the West, which supports Kyiv with money and military equipment.
What is the text of the new agreement?
The text of the new document is as follows:
• The two parties will set up a joint regional air defense system for the two countries.
• Be an integral part of the CIS defense system.
• Its objective is to improve the air defense of the region.
• During the term of the document, Kyrgyzstan will transfer 5 hectares of land to Russia for temporary use, in accordance with Article X.
• According to Article 6, the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force of the Russian Armed Forces coordinates the joint actions of the Air Defense Forces, while the Commander of the Air Defense Forces of the Kyrgyzstan Armed Forces directs the actions joint in the field of security.
• Both parties will ensure the protection of the information they receive during the execution of this agreement, which constitutes a state secret.
• The duration of the contract is 5 years, and it is tacitly renewed for periods, unless one of the parties notifies the other of its intention to terminate it at least six months in advance.
• Systems will be deployed at Batken, Kyrgyz Defense Minister Baktybek Bekbolotov says
Earlier, Putin described the visit of the President of Kyrgyzstan and his accompanying delegation to the Russian capital, Moscow, to witness Victory Day over Nazism on May 8 as a “remarkable event”.
Earlier US reports have revealed that the importance of the Central Asian region has increased for Russia since the latter was subjected to a complete Western blockade following the war in Ukraine.
At the end of April, Kyrgyzstan shut down radio “Azatec”, the local branch of Radio Free Europe, which is funded by the United States, at the request of Moscow, according to observers.
What are Kyrgyzstan’s military capabilities?
• The army: ranked No. 39 among Asian armies and No. 107 among the 145 largest armies in the world, according to the American site “Global Firepower”.
• The army: includes a total military force estimated at 25,000 men, including 15,000 men representing the active forces and 10,000 men representing the paramilitary forces, while there are no reserve forces.
• Military equipment: 6 military aircraft, 215 tanks, 5,000,268 military vehicles, 64 self-propelled guns, 311 towed guns, 21 rocket launchers.
• Population: 6 million inhabitants, of which about 3 million represent a workforce available for work, including 2.4 million fit for military service.
Why Kyrgyzstan?
According to Russian and Western reports, the country has a logistic support force which includes:
• Two ports, 28 airports, a road network of 34,000 km, a rail network of 424 km, in addition to waterways with a total length of 600 km.
• Moscow considers it one of its spheres of influence and its backyard
• It is one of the axes of geopolitical competition between Russia, China and the United States, alongside other players such as Turkey
• An area of 200 thousand square kilometers
• It is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west and southwest, Tajikistan to the southeast and China to the east.
• Member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as the Turkish Council.
• 75% of its population is Kyrgyz, 15% is Uzbek and 6% is Uzbek
• It has rich natural resources, where nuclear reactors, oil, gas and hydroelectricity are among the most important sources of energy, which signifies its role in supporting the regional economy.
What is Washington’s response?
In the first US reaction to the deal, the US Department of Commerce announced the imposition of new sanctions and export restrictions on 71 companies from Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.
On May 19, he said, “These companies act contrary to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States and support Russia’s military defense complex.”
At that time, the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry replied that Bishkek and Moscow are strategic allies, and that Kyrgyzstan is guided by its own interests in its relations with Russia and not by the threat of Western sanctions, according to the agency. “Novosti”.
Russian strategic expert Alexei Leonkov claims that Kyrgyzstan is one of the former Soviet republics and the social, security, military and economic link with Russia has not been broken.
He added to “Sky News Arabia” that the joint air defense system will be responsible for protecting the skies of Central Asian countries that fall under the Commonwealth of Independent States’ unified air defense system led by Russia in light of NATO’s expansion in these countries. regions and what he is doing with the war in Ukraine.
• Establish a joint air defense system to share experience with Kyrgyzstan in the fight against foreign interference.
Russia’s efforts to reshape the international system push it to play an influential role in its regional environment and to ensure the stability of the military and security situation in neighboring countries.
US military presence, Western intelligence and political penetration in Central Asian countries, especially after the attempted deployment of a missile shield in Europe, have prompted Moscow to protect its interests.
Moscow already maintains military bases there, and this country is a vital area of its historical influence, and they have a well-established and stable strategic partnership.
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