The Alliance, first and foremost, the United States, after 1991, were crammed into any open door to former Soviet republics to impose Russia around the perimeter of the borders of their bases. Most successfully this has happened in the Baltic States, partly in Georgia, flirting with NATO today, and Ukraine.
The undoubted success it was possible to recognize the stationing of us troops in Central Asia under the name of the operation in Afghanistan. But the new “strategic partner” and could not here to settle down and put down roots. Largely due to the influence of Russia.
In Soviet times on the territory of the Central Asian republics there were two large military districts, the eponymous Central Asian military district (SAVO) and Turkestan (Turkvo). Based on them later, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, there was a full-fledged national army – Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.
Even if the details don’t rate their overall technical condition, the number and combat potential, almost every one of these armies loses a potential enemy in the region – Kazakhstan not to resist China, Tajikistan can not handle Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan does not cope with Iraq and Iran.
But if these threats can be regarded as purely hypothetical, and the likelihood of armed conflict is extremely low, all the Central Asian countries have one real aggressor, which is a serious threat. It is the Taliban in Afghanistan and, added recently, ISIS (banned in Russia as a terrorist organization) on the part of Iraq.
Under the idea of protecting the Central Asian republics from the Taliban, the US on the sly started its military bases in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan. And, as it can do unceremoniously Yankees soon of the guests began zealously to turn into owners. It is clear that not everyone liked it.
In Uzbekistan, an American military base has existed from 2001 to 2005, and geographically located at the Khanabad airfield, near the city of Karshi. Fifteen hundred troops, the squadron’s transport C-130 aircraft, a dozen Black Hawk helicopters, the use of the airfield as a staging base like nothing, but the Americans began to intervene in the internal life of the country.
The reason for their expulsion was the U.S. reaction to the Andijon events in 2005, when Washington has made strong statements to the local authorities. This spring will stop and the Bureau of the Alliance’s relations with States of the region in Tashkent, and talk about the reopening of military bases in NATO, which was actively conducted in recent times, never found implementation.
Major home base of the NATO in Central Asia was the American military base Manas outside Bishkek, which used the runway of its international airport of the Kyrgyz capital. Ensuring its activities takes about one and a half thousand of variable composition and occupied area was 220 acres, on which representatives of local authorities were not permitted. The Americans practically had to move freely throughout the territory of the Republic and not declared the goods carried.
The NATO mission in Tajikistan was limited to the French contingent of 160 people based in Dushanbe airport, where side by side with Russian pilots. On the French left good memories – they repaired part of the runway, thanks to the investment of Paris was able to build a new wing of the airport, they helped in learning the French language to local pupils and students. But in 2014, their mission was considered completed. Unlike the 201st Russian military base, parts of which are located in different regions of Tajikistan and cover parts of the border with Afghanistan.
Turkmenistan, although involved since 1994 in the “Partnership for peace”, and was even allowed to use their airfields for transit passage of aircraft of the Alliance in Afghanistan, but requested the use of military air base in Mary (well-known previously a military airfield and garrison) never gave. All because Ashgabat adheres to the chosen status of a neutral state.
Did not provide its military facilities under the framework of NATO and Kazakhstan, although it also participates in the program “Partnership for peace” since 2003, has hosted a joint Kazakh-American military exercises “Steppe eagle”. It was suggested that on the territory of Kazakhstan, on the Caspian sea, you may see the American base, from which will go to support American troops in Iran in case of the outbreak of hostilities there. But Kazakhstan is an active and full member of such organizations as SCO and CSTO, the obligation of which preclude membership in any other military organization.
“Russia, be objective, and frankly beat NATO in a potential theater of military operations in Central Asia, – the Director of the Center for analysis of strategies and technologies (cast) Ruslan Pukhov. The East is known as a delicate and Moscow managed to find the levers of influence, which transformed the landscape in our favor.
In addition to guarantees total protection from the Taliban, which ensure the combined forces of the CSTO, which actually means the active aid of Russia in any country of the Treaty in case of aggression from outside, the Kremlin has offered preferential terms in purchasing modern weapons. You are with us at the same time? Here’s to you then T-90 tanks, s-300 and s-400, new planes and helicopters. And it was a very good decision in strengthening the confidence of the allies in Central Asia. The Americans never offered, was limited to the rent for which was able to influence in the internal politics of these countries.
Another very important player in the region – China, which is extremely interested in strengthening the American presence in Central Asia in General and on its borders in particular. The Chinese are not only ready to put weapons in here, but deliberately increased trade with all Central Asian republics, which at times exceeds import-export with the same US. And Beijing is also aggressively ask for in return for such cooperation to keep NATO away.
And if Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to the Russian President it is easier to find common language and make offers that are hard to refuse, here is a very obstinate Uzbekistan in this situation rather acts with an eye on China, although their pretenzii expects to receive from Russia. This is business, nothing personal”.
And if we talk about the financial side of the question, minimize investments in the Central Asian republics have been under the previous American leadership, which was openly to save money on Central Asian projects. There have any bags on the donkey drive – little effect, to take-then take, but on any real democratic reform are reluctant.
Plus careful scenarios of “color revolutions” that inevitably follows any American influence in the country. And now when the American President Donald trump even the loyalist of the Baltic States said that will not give money, then certainly in Central Asia, in the current situation at the Pentagon is unlikely that anything will scrape. Especially given the content of the contingent in Afghanistan, which is already too expensive and the United States and NATO.
Author: Viktor Sokirko
Photo: Ministry of defence of the Russian Federation/ Defence.gov