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Spurred by the ongoing war in Ukraine and concerns over the reliability and availability of Russian arms, Central Asian nations are reconsidering their reliance on Russia as a primary military supplier, says a report in BreakingDefense.com
According to the report by the New York-based website, these nationsтАФKazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and UzbekistanтАФare diversifying their arms sources, looking to countries like China, Turkey, and even the United States for alternatives.
U.S. Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Ambassador Donald Lu, believes this shift is less about favouring China and more about moving away from Russia. тАЬTheyтАЩre not just looking at China; theyтАЩre looking at Iran, Europe, and the U.S.,тАЭ he said.
This change is partly driven by the strain RussiaтАЩs invasion of Ukraine has placed on its defence supply chain, which has made Russian equipment harder to acquire. Additionally, concerns over the performance of Russian arms in the Ukrainian conflict have raised doubts about their effectiveness in potential regional conflicts.
The Foreign Policy Research Institute highlights that RussiaтАЩs invasion of Ukraine has undermined its standing as a dependable security partner for Central Asia. This distrust, particularly prominent in Kazakhstan, stems from the invasionтАЩs implications for sovereignty and regional stability.
While these countries have relatively modest defence budgetsтАФKazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan together spent just $1.84 billion in 2023тАФtheir strategic location at the crossroads of Russia, China, Afghanistan, and Iran makes them a focal point for geopolitical competition.
China has been a significant beneficiary of Central AsiaтАЩs shift, offering appealing arms deals and economic incentives. Turkey, too, is increasing its footprint, particularly through the export of drones and other defense technologies, building on its growing role as a global arms supplier.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has observed heightened interest in American-made defense equipment from the region, though financial and technological barriers remain. According to U.S. officials, Central Asian nations are particularly interested in specialized capabilities, such as small arms, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with specific ranges, and over-the-horizon radar systems.
Despite these challenges, the U.S. sees opportunities to deepen defence ties with Central Asia through the gradual introduction of advanced systems. This interest in U.S. defence technology reflects a broader shift in the regionтАЩs strategic priorities, as these nations seek to balance their relationships with global powers in response to RussiaтАЩs apparently diminishing influence and the evolving global security landscape.
