Russia Intensifies Intervention Options in Central Asia
Moscow plans to re-equip the multi-role brigades in the Russian Ground Forces with wheeled military vehicles. The decision to displace the existing tracked platforms is meant to enhance operational mobility. The initiative emanated from Army-General Nikolai Makarov, the Chief of the General Staff, who was recently buoyed in his post after President Vladimir Putin issued an ukaz extending his service by an additional two years. Therefore, Makarov is likely to remain in his post until October 2014. READ MORE
Kazakhstan to increase military cooperation with Poland and Japan
The Minister of Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan received Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Poland Tomasz Siemoniak. The two sides signed an agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Government of the Republic of Poland on cooperation in defence sphere, Defence. Professionals reports. READ MORE
The CSTO Enfant terrible
Suspension of Uzbekistan Membership in the Organization May Have the Most Serious Consequences READ MORE
What is Going to Happen to Middle Asia?
Each day gets us closer to the date of withdrawal of the main part of American troops and all NATO units from Afghanistan, planned on the end of 2014, and it becomes clear, that the prospects of Middle Asia look more indefinite. As it has already been known, a part of military equipment the USA plans to give the former soviet republics of the region. READ MORE
Kazakhstan to play most active role in supporting reverse transit of ISAF forces from Afghanistan
Kazakhstan will play “the most active role” in supporting reverse transit of the U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan, according to President Nazarbayev’s advisor for political affairs, Ermukhamet Ertysbayev. READ MORE
Turkmenistan intends to resolve dispute with Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea through International Court of Justice
The acting Minister of Oil and Gas and Mineral Resources of Turkmenistan, Kakageldi Abdyllaev, commented on the situation around Turkmenistan’s activities at Serdar field. READ MORE
Russia in the Islamic World
Why does Russia so stubbornly support the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad? This question is frequently discussed in Western media and political circles. Many American and European analysts consider Moscow’s policy a “phantom of the Cold War” or some kind of dictatorial solidarity. But realism plays a more important role in Moscow’s reasoning than anti-American hostility. READ MORE
Russia Versus China
Russia is seeking ways to halt unauthorized Chinese production of Russian jet fighters. This has proven very difficult, especially since Russia and China are supposed to be allies these days. Earlier this year the extent of the problem was made quite stark when China refused to buy Su-35 fighters from Russia if a "no unauthorized duplication" clause was included in the contract. The Chinese wanted to buy the Su-35s but were not willing to sign a binding agreement to not copy the Russian design. READ MORE
Moscow Fears Shift in Central Asia’s Strategic Balance Post-2014
Moscow has reacted with concern after learning about the ongoing talks between Washington and three Central Asian countries aimed at agreeing on the handover of equipment linked to the NATO drawdown in Afghanistan. Russian officials fear that such equipment donations to the Armed Forces in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan not only go way beyond the existing arrangements to assist in reverse transit using the Northern Distribution Network (NDN) but could upset the strategic balance in Central Asia post-2014. In diplomatic circles in Moscow, this development is portrayed as entirely unacceptable to Russia and may indicate a worsening in US-Russian relations. A potential diplomatic crisis between Washington and Moscow is brewing precisely in this area due to a number of inter-related factors, but with President Vladimir Putin under pressure domestically he may choose to use this at some stage to boost his image at home by confronting the United States more directly. READ MORE
The country is in mourning - but Ablyazov rejoices – this is his wonderful opportunity for personal PR
There is a certain type of politics - I call them homo-abscessus (translated from Latin - the man-abscess), which form their own political baggage exclusively on black news. And in the absence of those make every effort for the black news to come. READ MORE
