Ankara strengthens military presence in Kyrgyzstan
Ankara and Bishkek are preparing to expand defense cooperation. In particular, they are talking about joint production of military products and their export to third countries. The bill on ratification of the agreement aimed at strengthening Kyrgyzstan's defense-industrial potential has already been sent to parliament. How Turkey is strengthening its military presence in the region and to what extent it threatens Russia's interests - in the material of "Izvestia".
Produce weapons together
Kyrgyzstan and Turkey signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of defense industry. Now this document is to be ratified by the Kyrgyz parliament. In the background note it is stated that this agreement is designed to increase the defense industrial potential of Kyrgyzstan.
The document provides for cooperation in the following areas: development, direct supply and sale to third countries of all types of products and services of the defense industry, repair, maintenance and modernization of various platforms and systems, as well as technology transfer and cooperation on training and exchange of documents between the countries.
The project is expected to be financed by both parties in accordance with national legislation.
Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, November 5, 2024
In addition, a bilateral Kyrgyz-Turkish investment fund is being established in Bishkek. This indicates that Kyrgyzstan and Turkey seriously intend to develop bilateral trade and economic cooperation within the framework of the Turkic Council, the headquarters of which are located in Bishkek and Ankara.
The Turkish authorities are interested not only in trade with the republic, but also in military-technical and defense-strategic cooperation, given the favorable geopolitical position of Kyrgyzstan: the country borders with China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, as well as pipelines to China pass through the territory of the state.
In addition, Ankara also wants to be present in the republic "through the Turkic Council". In the sphere of military-technical cooperation Turkey is ready to supply Kyrgyzstan with defense weapons. In particular, Bayraktar drones for the protection of state borders. They are in service with the armies of Central Asian countries, except for Tajikistan.
Over the past two and a half years, Kyrgyzstan has spent more than $1.3 billion on arms purchases and logistical support for its armed forces.
According to some reports, the Republic of Turkey continues to export small arms for its army units to Kyrgyzstan.
In addition, through Kyrgyzstan, Turkey is interested in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China (XUAR), where Muslim Uyghurs live.
Ankara's interests
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov announced that relations between Bishkek and Ankara have reached the level of "comprehensive strategic partnership" following the visit of Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the country in November 2024. As a result, the two sides signed a whole package of documents, including an agreement to expand cooperation in the defense sector.
Ankara's ambitious strategy to strengthen its influence in Central Asia began with the creation of the Organization of Turkic States. Turkey has adopted a comprehensive approach covering educational, cultural, economic and now military aspects of cooperation.
In particular, Turkish authorities are working on the use of a railroad transportation corridor that would connect the railroads of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Georgia with the Turkish transportation network.
In addition, together with China, Turkey is implementing a project of a trans-Caspian transportation route connecting all the countries of the Turkic world. This will allow Ankara to increase imports of raw materials and exports of manufactured goods.
However, the realization of this project will require coordination of efforts both in the sphere of economy and logistics, as well as in the protection of critical infrastructure facilities, which implies increased coordination in the fight against terrorism, countering external interference, and cyber security.
The countries of the region conduct regular joint exercises, including training of special forces. In the Turkish province of Kars from January 20 to February 7, maneuvers "Winter-2025" were held, in which the military from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kosovo, Uzbekistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina participated.
In January this year, Turkey signed a similar agreement on military cooperation with Kazakhstan.
What experts think
Razil Guzaerov, a junior researcher at the Middle and Post-Soviet East Department of the Institute of Scientific Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted in a conversation with Izvestia that Turkey's actions fit into its strategy towards the Turkic world, within the framework of which Ankara wants to increase its role and assert leadership.
- With the transformation of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking States into the Organization of Turkic States in 2021, a new stage of the organization's activity began. The states moved to closer cooperation in many fields. The organization's roadmap "Vision of the Turkic World 2040" was also adopted, which implies closer integration of the member states," the political scientist explained.
The expert added that most of the intensification of interaction is in the social sphere.
- For example, unification and publication of books, creation of a single Turkic alphabet, holding festivals and scientific events. However, judging by the speeches of the leaders of the states at the summits of the TNA, the states more and more often declare the need to deepen economic interaction and cooperation in the field of security," the expert said.
According to him, at the level of the organization, this direction of interaction is not developing quickly and requires serious efforts from the members of the OTG.
- Turkey is working with Turkic countries not only within the OTG. An important role in Ankara's strategy is played by interaction at the level of bilateral relations. This parallel development of relations in different formats should strengthen Turkey's presence in the region and affirm its status as a regional leader," the analyst said.
He is sure that the agreements signed between Kyrgyzstan and Turkey demonstrate certain successes of Ankara in this direction. Guzayerov recalled that in November 2024, Presidents Erdogan and Zhaparov of Turkey and Kyrgyzstan signed a number of agreements on security, energy, education, health and culture.
- Now there is a gradual realization of the signed documents. The development of relations in the sphere of military-industrial complex with Turkic countries, and Kyrgyzstan in particular, is necessary for Turkey to find new markets for the developing sphere of military-industrial complex," the political scientist believes.
The expert notes that Kyrgyzstan has previously purchased Turkish arms, which it used during the border conflict with Tajikistan. Most likely, the enterprise in Kyrgyzstan will be considered by Turkey as a regional hub, which should establish the sale of military products to other countries in the region, the expert believes.
- First of all, Turkey seeks to occupy the niche of unmanned aerial vehicles, which is becoming more relevant but still has a limited number of exporters. However, joint production is already bringing the countries' relations to a new level," the expert believes.
According to the analyst, first of all, there is the issue that Turkish weapons are produced according to NATO standards, which means that the joint venture will work according to these standards, which means a gradual reorientation of the Kyrgyz military sphere to the requirements of the alliance in certain areas.
Vladimir Avatkov, Doctor of Political Sciences, Head of the Middle and Post-Soviet East Department at the Institute of International Scientific Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted in a conversation with Izvestia that following Erdogan's meeting with Zhaparov, Turkey wrote off Kyrgyzstan's foreign debt in the amount of $62.3 million. After that, Zhaparov presented his Turkish counterpart with the Order of Manas, First Class, for his contribution to the development of relations between Turkey and Kyrgyzstan.
- But Ankara wrote off the debt not for nothing, but in exchange for green economy projects. At the same time, prices in Turkey itself are rising, and the economic situation continues to be far from ideal. But one can't do anything for the sake of developing geopolitically fertile strategic lands," the political scientist emphasized.
Such write-offs may not be too favorable to the already criticized elite, the expert believes. At the same time, the specialist emphasized that Russia is actively investing in various spheres in Central Asian countries.
- Cooperation between Russia and Kyrgyzstan is advancing in all areas. Traditionally, the main ones are energy and education. The Russian Federation allocates much more than Turkey, but the Turks know how to play PR and form lobbies, but what about us? - summarized the analyst.
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