BISHKEK: Kyrgyzstan’s parliament ratified an agreement on Wednesday for the establishment of a joint air defense system with Russia, aimed at bolstering regional security efforts. The agreement, which grants a five-hectare land plot at the Kant Russian military base in Kyrgyzstan for the joint program, was approved just a day before the scheduled visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Central Asian nation.
In a statement, the Kyrgyz parliament announced the adoption of the bill, emphasizing the creation of the Joint Regional Air Defense System between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Russian Federation. The accord is set to remain valid for five years, according to the state-run Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
Although President Putin’s visit to Kant was initially planned, the Kyrgyz presidency stated on Wednesday that the visit had been canceled, refraining from providing specific details, AFP news agency reported. However, the Russian leader is still scheduled to hold talks with his Kyrgyz counterpart, President Sadyr Japarov, on Thursday. Additionally, he will attend a summit alongside leaders of other post-Soviet countries the following day.
Russia’s Defense Agreements with Allied Nations
This collaborative defense initiative is not unprecedented, as Russia has similar agreements in place with other allied nations, including Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Tajikistan. The move underscores Russia’s ongoing efforts to enhance security cooperation within the region.
The announcement comes amid scrutiny of Moscow’s Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which comprises six post-Soviet states. While CSTO members have pledged mutual defense in the event of an attack, concerns have arisen due to Moscow’s perceived reluctance to intervene in specific regional conflicts.
Notably, Moscow did not involve itself when Azerbaijan initiated an offensive on the ethnic Armenian separatist statelet of Nagorno-Karabakh. Additionally, the alliance has refrained from deploying peacekeeping troops to address border clashes between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, both of which are CSTO members.
