Terror threat

CIS summit: Russia to bolster Central Asia military

Leaders of post-Soviet states are gathering in Kazakhstan to attend the summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a regional organisation dominated by Russia. One of the key documents they are expected to sign is a concept of military co-operation until 2020.

Russia has been pushing its military presence across the region and this document will certainly fit this policy.

Interestingly, this document will be reviewed in Central Asia, where Russia has been rapidly increasingly its military capacity lately.

Moscow struck deals with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to extend its bases till 2042 and 2032 respectively. It has announced an increase in troops in Tajikistan, its largest foreign base, from 5,900 to 9,000 soldiers by 2020.