On July 8-17, the troops of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan will hold a training camp in Mangistau region. The Birlestik-2024 military exercise will take place at the Oimasha training ground, in a sea area two kilometers from Cape Tokmak. This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan.
According to the Ministry, about 4,000 servicemen and about 700 weapons and military equipment will take part in the exercise.
“Tactical episodes will take place with the participation of ground and air reconnaissance teams, naval special forces, army and frontline aviation crews, warships and boats, artillery reconnaissance teams, assault and tank units,” the Ministry of Defense said.
Five CIS countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan – agreed in April this year to conduct military exercises without the participation of Russia and Iran. Before that, the Kazakh army held training exercises with the Russian and Uzbek troops at the Oymash training ground.
Experts paid special attention to the fact that the Central Asian countries will conduct military exercises with Azerbaijan. Foreign publications said that this training camp caused concern in Moscow. Russian publications wrote that Russia and Iran on the shores of the Caspian should have been invited as “observers” even though they did not participate in this exercise.
Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio liberty
