Teams for the Silk Allies
Sergey Koshmyakin, Pravda, May 26-27, 2026 —
Western penetration into Central Asia is not limited to economic projects. Washington’s field is a military field. In June, the parties will hold joint exercises, the republics will reorient the armed forces to NATO standards.
In the Russian expert environment, you can find optimistic assessments of cooperation with Central Asian countries. The latter, they say, can strengthen relations with the West in the extraction of minerals or transport, but military-political ties with Moscow will remain indestructible. Such a superficial approach ignores the obvious: politics and the economy go hand in hand, especially since the ruling circles of the United States and the European Union do not hide their goals.
In April, a new strategy for cooperation with the S7+ region was presented in Washington, a “Silk Seven Plus”), providing for the creation of an economic space integrated with the West. In addition to the five post-Soviet republics, it is supposed to include Pakistan and Afghanistan. Azerbaijan is considered as a close partner of the association. Proclaiming a decrease in the dependence of the region on China and Russia, the initiative involves the development of transport and infrastructure corridors through the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus, as well as through Pakistani ports.
“The United States, despite its unwavering economic and political appeal, too often overlooked the region, giving way to competitors at a time when many countries are actively seeking a more balanced set of partnerships,” the National Interest magazine advertises the American magazine. It recognizes that the countries of Eurasia are not a passive arena for the competition of great powers, but active subjects capable of forming their own future.
Such integration, as stated, will reduce security threats, especially since Washington is increasingly working in this direction. The topic of cooperation in the fight against terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking was discussed at the end of April in Dushanbe, where the special envoy of the US President for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gore, arrived. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Sirodzhddin Muhriddin noted the interest of the republic in strengthening ties with Washington. According to the official report, the interlocutors exchanged views on the regional situation and stressed the importance of joint measures to maintain stability and prevent humanitarian risks.
A delegation consisting of representatives of the central command of the US Army, the Air Force and the Montana State National Guard visited Kyrgyzstan. At a meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Defense of Kyrgyzstan, plans for military cooperation for 2026-2027 were discussed. By the way, Bishkek’s relationship with the Montana National Guard is 30 years old this year. Last autumn, the parties held joint military exercises “Ak-Shumkar-2025”. They worked out the skills of border protection, search and rescue operations, etc.
The main bet in the regional game of the West remains Kazakhstan. As part of the reform of the armed forces, the authorities of the republic intend to achieve self-sufficiency in some weapons and ammunition. To do this, four plants for the production of artillery shells and mines will be built, both according to Soviet-Russian standards and according to NATO standards. The latter include, in particular, mortar shells of 155 and 60 millimeters.
During the state visit to Kazakhstan of the President of Turkey (NATO member countries) Recep Tayyip Erdogan in mid-May, the parties agreed to create a joint venture for the production and maintenance of attack drones Anka. Earlier, Astana and Ankara signed an agreement on simplified air transit of military equipment and personnel. Instead of one-time approvals, a system of annual diplomatic permits is introduced. In the case of forced landing, the host party undertakes to ensure safety and allow specialists to repair equipment.
On May 6, during a trip to Turkey of the chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan, Kanysh Abubakirov, the two countries agreed to bring cooperation in the military-industrial complex to a new level and intensify training programs for Kazakhstani servicemen in Turkish military universities. The agreement on military-technical cooperation was signed by Astana with Azerbaijan, Ankara’s closest ally.
All this is in the interests of the West. According to the Stockholm Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russia’s share in the defense procurement of Astana over the past five years has decreased from 88 percent to 83 percent. But supplies from NATO member countries are growing: Turkey, Spain, France. The multinational military exercises Regional Cooperation 2026 will help to consolidate the success. They will be held in June in the United States with the participation of military personnel from the states of Central and South Asia. Turning a blind eye to such trends is unacceptable.