ANKARA — Turkey has stepped up military assistance to its Central Asian nations, providing more than $1.3 million worth of military equipment and
other supplies to the Kazakh military and security forces.
The transfer of the Turkish military equipment took place in Almaty in
mid-2005. Officials said Turkey contributed 24 Land Rover vehicles, four of
them intended as military ambulances.
Other equipment donated to Kazakhstan over the last year included a
military vehicle and more than 90 hand-held portable radios, Middle East Newsline reported. Officials said
that since 1998 Turkey provided $6.5 million in military-technical
assistance to the Kazakh military. The equipment was said to have included
patrol boats and computers.
Officials said Turkey has also expanded its training program for Central
Asian militaries. They said Ankara has invited officers from Kazakhstan and
other countries in the region for military instruction.
Recently, Turkish Chief of Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok toured Kazakhstan and
discussed an expansion of military cooperation. In June 2005, Ozkok and
Kazakh Defense Minister Muhtar Altunbayev agreed to further develop military
relations.
Turkey's efforts in Central Asia has been coordinated with the United
States. Washington has used Turkey to increase Western influence in the
region, which has been a target of Iran.
The objective of Ankara has been to improve the counter-insurgency
skills of the Kazakh military. Officials said the effort was envisioned to
continue through 2010 and include the protection of Kazakh territorial
waters in the energy-rich Caspian Sea.
