Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 10 / Trend E.Ostapenko /
Finnish Institute of International Affairs expert on Central Asia Igor Torbakov believes a Russia- Kazakhstan agreement on the establishment of a unified air defense system (ADS) does not give cause for concern to the United States, and will not become an obstacle in the implementation of NATO operations in Afghanistan.
"There is no need to be afraid of difficulties in terms of the transportation of NATO cargo to Afghanistan through Kazakhstan (because of a unified ADS)," he said. "Russia has been actively cooperating with the United States in the Afghan effort."
Kazakhstan, of course, occupies an important strategic position in Central Asia, and one should expect that the United States might be concerned, he said. The idea of creating a unified ADS is not new and the Americans are closely watching the negotiations.
Kazakhstan occupies an important strategic position in Central Asia. The country has large oil and gas reserves and a set of energy routes passing through its territory. Kazakhstan mainly exports energy to Russia and China, as well as to the EU via Russia and the Caspian countries.
Kazakhstan's role is important in the ISAF mission's efforts to restore stability in Afghanistan. According to a recent agreement with the United States, Kazakhstan's airspace is used for the transit of military cargo to Afghanistan.
Torbakov said the idea of a joint Russia-Kazakhstan ADS is included in the context of a broader perspective, which was discussed in Moscow on Thursday at the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). The creation of a unified ADS and joint operational response to threats were two main themes at the summit.
"The agreement with Kazakhstan on defense is certain progress, and Russia is likely to continue to push this idea to other countries in the CIS region," Torbakov said.
Russia and Kazakhstan agreed to create a unified ADS on Wednesday following talks between the heads of the two countries' military departments in Moscow. As part of strengthening the common defense space between the two countries, Russia will supply Kazakhstan with the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system.
Such a system existed during Soviet times. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, several post-Soviet states thought they would no longer need the system.
Meanwhile, Torbakov said that it is obvious that the majority of CIS countries are not able to create their own air defense system, while potential threats to their safety still exist. Thus, Russia's offer may seem attractive for individual CIS countries.
Less than a month ago, Russia reached an agreement with NATO on a joint missile defense system (MDS). A Russia-NATO agreement on joint work to develop a MDS in Europe was the main result of the NATO-Russia Council's summit meeting in Lisbon.
Russia and NATO have not yet reached a consensus on missile threat sources. The United States and NATO European members name Iran and North Korea as threats. However, other NATO members such as Turkey have refused to classify Iran as a potential missile threat source.
"As there is no a unified vision of potential threats, each is trying to solve this problem as it wishes," Torbakov said, commenting on the interests of CIS countries in establishing their own defense systems.