Military exercises "Birlestik-2024" in the Mangystau region of Kazakhstan, which are taking place on the shores of the Caspian Sea, have entered the main phase. Army contingents from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan have been brought to the highest level of combat readiness, the Kazakhstani Ministry reports.
The maneuvers are being conducted at the Oymasha range and Cape Tokmak. The goal of the exercises is stated as "performing combat training tasks aimed at defining the zone of armed conflicts."
The exercises involve joint tank units and special forces, military aviation, and maneuvers are also taking place in the maritime direction, the statement says .
The preparation for the joint military exercises in Kazakhstan "Birlestik-2024" was announced following a meeting of defense ministry representatives of the four Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan on April 4 in Aktau.
All five countries participating in the exercises are located along the Middle Corridor, connecting China and Europe through Central Asia and the Caucasus bypassing Russia. The significance of this route, also known as the Trans-Caspian corridor, increased after the start of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the West's sanctions against Moscow in 2022, as well as after the attacks by Yemeni Houthis on ships in the Red Sea in 2023.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
July 15, 2024