Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 10 / Trend E. Ostapenko /
Even while creating a single air defense system with Russia, Kazakhstan will remain a true NATO ally. The move will eliminate the problems that arise while implementing peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan, Nicolas de Pedro, an expert on Central Asia and a researcher at the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs, told Trend.
He added that the agreement to use Kazakh airspace signed between Kazakhstan and the United States in mid-November will serve as a guarantee for the transit of military cargo to Afghanistan within the ISAF mission to restore stability in this country, which has been in a state of war and destruction for the past 30 years.
The decision on a single Russian-Kazakh air defense system was made by the Russian and Kazakh governments on Wednesday following talks between the heads of their military agencies in Moscow.
Russia will supply 10 S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems on a pro bono basis to Kazakhstan in a move to strengthen the common defense space between the two countries.
"For U.S. policymakers, as for many other people, it is clear that Kazakhstan has and wants to have a close defense and security relationship with Russia, but as Astana emphasizes often, this does not mean necessarily any cutback in cooperation with NATO," Pedro said.
"I would not expect any significant reactions," he stressed.
"The Obama administration is trying to accommodate Russia in the Eurasian space and this agreement, while relevant, does not mean any meaningful change in the state of play," Pedro said.
Kazakhstan holds an important strategic position in Central Asia. The country has large oil and gas reserves. Myriad energy routes stretch through its territory. Kazakhstan mainly exports energy resources to Russia, China and the EU via Russia and the Caspian countries.
However, obviously, this agreement strengthens Russia's position as the main actor in Central Asia's military panorama, the expert said.
In the last decade, Moscow has been trying to reestablish, at least to some extent, the Soviet air defense system. This is just another step to achieve this goal, in which, it must not be forgotten, Moscow has counted on Astana's support.
The Soviet Union boasted a sprawling, single missile defense system. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, some post-Soviet countries thought they would no longer need a common system.
"I do not think this will help Kazakhstan to face the main menaces on the immediate horizon, as many of them are of a non-traditional nature," he said. "But it must be admitted that to receive, free-of-charge, as it has been reported, some S-300 long-range, ground-to-air missile systems... this is a tempting present for the Kazakh armed forces."