CIS summit: Russia to bolster Central Asia military By Abdujalil Abdurasulov

BBC News, Almaty Published duration 16 October 2015

image copyright Getty Images image caption Russian soldiers take part in join exercises with Central Asian forces in Kyrgyzstan

Leaders of post-Soviet states are gathering in Kazakhstan to attend the summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a regional organisation dominated by Russia. One of the key documents they are expected to sign is a concept of military co-operation until 2020.

Russia has been pushing its military presence across the region and this document will certainly fit this policy.

Interestingly, this document will be reviewed in Central Asia, where Russia has been rapidly increasingly its military capacity lately.

Moscow struck deals with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to extend its bases till 2042 and 2032 respectively. It has announced an increase in troops in Tajikistan, its largest foreign base, from 5,900 to 9,000 soldiers by 2020.

Russia is planning to renew the fleet of its airbase at Kant, Kyrgyzstan by 2016. It has already sent a dozen of new and modified versions of Su-25 fighter jets to replace older planes.

It has been upgrading other equipment at the bases - from trucks and armoured personnel carriers (APCs) to drones.

The Central military district that oversees Russian bases in Central Asia has recently announced that it will dispatch a helicopter unit to be stationed at the airbase in Ayni, Tajikistan. Moscow has been trying to gain access to this airbase since at least 2004.

Russia has also pledged to provide $1bn to Kyrgyzstan in military aid. Tajikistan is receiving Russian military aid too, though the exact figures are not known.

'Growing threat'

The number of military drills at Russian bases in the region and joint exercises with Central Asian forces has gone up recently. Alexander Golts, a Moscow-based military analyst, says that during such drills Russia is not only training its troops but also improving contacts between political leadership, to work on the scenario of obtaining "a legitimate right" to intervene with Russian troops at the early stage of a conflict.

Moscow justifies building up a military presence in the region by highlighting the threat Central Asia and Russia are facing from Afghanistan and beyond.

"There is a growing threat that terrorist and extremist groups can penetrate into the territories that border Afghanistan," said President Vladimir Putin at the Dushanbe summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Russia-led security bloc, in September. He added that the situation was exacerbated by the presence of so-called Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan.

image copyright Getty Images image caption Mr Putin has expressed concern over what he says is an increasing threat facing Central Asia and Russia from Afghanistan and beyond

Latest clashes in Kunduz, near the lengthy Afghan-Tajik border, only add to these concerns.

Mr Golts argues that it is just a matter of time before militant groups cross into Central Asia, and the Russian military is required to "hold the ground" until main forces arrive.

However, it is important to note that the Taliban showed little interest in attacking its northern neighbours in the late 1990s when it controlled a large part of the border with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Central Asian factions that joined the Taliban, such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, are small and enjoy very little or no support from the local population in their home countries.

Expanding influence

Dr Erica Marat from the College of International Security Affairs of the National Defense University claims that the threat of "Islamic extremism" is "inflated" and often used by Central Asian governments to crack down on political opponents. She argues that Russia is rather trying to regain its control over Central Asia.

The military co-operation concept that will be discussed at the CIS summit may provide legal means for Russia to expand its influence since it is the dominant state with the biggest army in the organisation.

But a discussion of this document may also show the limit of support Russia enjoys in the CIS.

image copyright Getty Images image caption One of the key documents CIS members are expected to sign is a concept of military co-operation until 2020

Russia is frustrated that other states in the region like Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan keep their distance when it comes to military co-operation.

In fact, Uzbekistan has been getting closer to the US than to Russia in terms of military support. The Pentagon has provided more than 300 MRAP armoured vehicles to Uzbekistan with total acquisition value of almost $180m, according to the Excess Defense Articles program.

Other countries outside Central Asia may also be wary about strengthening military ties with Russia, particularly Moldova and Ukraine. The latter has formally declared Russia its enemy.

So having all CIS members commit to a common military concept will be a significant achievement for Russia. However, its discussion may also reveal divisions in the Russia-led bloc.