KAZAKHSTAN’S DEFENSE POLICY: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE TRENDS

The U.S. war on terrorism, with its deployment of
military assets within Central Asia in support of ongoing
antiterrorist operations in Afghanistan, ensures the long-term
strategic importance of Central Asia in U.S. policy planning.
Kazakhstan, with its vast hydrocarbon reserves combined
with its high profile support for the war on terrorism, will play
a key part in these calculations. As Kazakhstan has developed
the capabilities of its armed forces, with American and allied
assistance, questions arise over how in the future it may play
a more active part either in antiterrorist or in peace support
operations. Kazakhstan is also exploring such issues in the
context of its forthcoming chairmanship of the Organization
for Security Cooperation in Europe in 2010, which may indicate
that Astana would like to raise its international security profile
further still.
In this monograph, Roger N. McDermott argues that
Kazakhstan’s armed forces, though subject to many structural
changes, have not yet experienced systemic military reform.
He assesses the achievements and setbacks of U.S. and
NATO defense assistance to the country, while also showing
that Kazakhstan remains deeply linked in close defense
and security partnership with Russia. McDermott suggests
greater sophistication and follow-up is needed from Western
assistance programs to ensure that Kazakhstan successfully
gains genuine military capabilities and the type of armed
forces it needs within the region.
The Strategic Studies Institute is pleased to recommend
this monograph for leaders in the Army and Department of
Defense to gain more insight into how such complex issues
may be addressed.