The participation of Kazakh military personnel in the international military exercises Anadolu-2025, held in Turkey with troops from 33 countries - including NATO members - has sparked wide interest and discussion among experts, Caravan-info.pro reports.
According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Defense, the official goal of involvement was to strengthen international military cooperation and share professional experience. However, several observers suggest that behind this wording lie signs of a potential shift in the country’s foreign policy direction.
The location of the exercises - Turkey - drew particular attention. As a country with growing regional influence and a leading role in promoting the idea of Turkic integration, Turkey has traditionally maintained ties with Kazakhstan within economic and cultural frameworks through the Organization of Turkic States. Now, however, cooperation between Astana and Ankara appears to be acquiring a clear military-political dimension.
Given Kazakhstan’s membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and its close ties with Russia and China, participation in NATO-associated drills could be seen as a cautious but meaningful step toward alternative security alignments.
Analysts note that as regional powers come under increasing pressure to define their strategic allegiances, Astana may risk straying from its established neutrality. While for now this involvement may seem limited to a single exercise, it could soon evolve into a deeper military-strategic partnership.
In this light, Anadolu-2025 may prove to be more than a routine training event - it could mark a shift in Kazakhstan’s geopolitical orientation, closely watched in both Moscow and Beijing.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
July 8, 2025