Joint Military Exercises - The Times Of Central Asia

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Joint Military Exercises

Five Countries Complete Large-Scale ‘Birlik-2025’ Military Exercises in Uzbekistan

The multinational military exercises Birlik-2025 ("Unity-2025") have concluded at the Kattakurgan training ground in Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region. The joint maneuvers, which began on October 14, brought together armed forces from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan. According to the Uzbek Ministry of Defense, the drills were among the largest in the history of regional military cooperation. The exercises focused on counterterrorism and defense operations, aiming to enhance interoperability, tactical coordination, and combat readiness among the participating countries. Scenarios included simulated urban warfare, reconnaissance, and joint air-ground operations. Commanders utilized computer modeling and simulation technologies to analyze battlefield decisions and identify optimal tactical responses. These digital tools played a key role in shaping the exercise outcomes and refining strategic planning. [caption id="attachment_37891" align="aligncenter" width="351"] @Ministry of Defense of Uzbekistan[/caption] Observers included the defense ministers of all participating states, along with military representatives from Turkmenistan, who attended in a monitoring capacity. The drills were conducted across more than 20 training grounds in multiple regions of Uzbekistan. In the initial phase, reconnaissance units deployed unmanned aerial vehicles to assess the territory of a hypothetical enemy. This was followed by a special operation to neutralize simulated illegal armed groups in an urban environment. Precision artillery and air strikes were executed by ground forces, while the air forces of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan provided air cover and destroyed critical enemy positions. Combat helicopters and fighter jets demonstrated joint tactical coordination with land-based units. Troops also practiced offensive operations along the defensive line using a range of weapons and military equipment. The multi-stage training format included tasks of varying complexity, replicating conditions of high-intensity conflict. [caption id="attachment_37893" align="aligncenter" width="352"] @Ministry of Defense of Uzbekistan[/caption] According to the Uzbek Ministry of Defense, Birlik-2025 served as a valuable platform for exchanging experience in combating international terrorism, extremism, and armed insurgency. “Joint operations have made it possible to consolidate advanced methods of combat and improve interoperability between units from different countries,” the ministry stated. Following the conclusion of the active phase, participants visited mobile maintenance workshops, command posts, and exhibits showcasing modernized weaponry and defense technologies.

CSTO

CSTO Working Group on Military Training and Scientific Cooperation Opens in Bishkek

A working group meeting on military training and scientific cooperation under the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) opened in Bishkek today, bringing together delegations from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan to coordinate officer education, joint curricula, and research collaboration across the bloc. The two-day session runs August 21–22 under Kyrgyzstan’s 2025 chairmanship. AKIpress reported the start of proceedings and its focus on aligning training and scientific work across member states. Officials have said the agenda will center on harmonizing military-education standards, expanding joint training for specialized branches, and mapping priority research areas that can be shared among defense academies and laboratories across the alliance. Outcomes from the Bishkek meeting are expected to inform the CSTO’s rolling program of joint trainings and institutional cooperation in 2026 and beyond. Recent Track Record in Central Asia Today’s meeting builds on a stepped-up schedule of CSTO drills and staff talks in Central Asia. In September 2024, Kyrgyzstan hosted the active phase of “Interaction-2024,” “Search-2024,” and “Echelon-2024” exercises designed to synchronize command-and-control, reconnaissance, logistics, and support elements of the alliance’s collective forces. The Kyrgyz leg concluded with combined operations demonstrations and evaluation of interoperability gains. In October 2024, Tajikistan hosted “Rubezh-2024,” focused on Central Asia’s rapid-deployment forces and scenarios involving incursions by illegal armed groups, hostage rescue, and air-defense coordination. The CSTO reported that the exercise’s operational objectives were achieved and that joint tactics were refined during the active phase at the Harbmaidon range. This year, the organization also ran a strategic command-staff training for its Joint Staff and national ministries on March 17–20, 2025, rehearsing planning and coordination procedures for regional contingencies - part of the bloc’s annual joint-training cycle. Policy framework and next steps The Bishkek working group is meeting against the backdrop of decisions taken by defense ministers in Bishkek on May 28, 2025, when CSTO members approved the Plan of Military Cooperation for 2026–2030 and the Plan of joint training for 2026 - documents that set training priorities, exercise calendars, and institutional cooperation goals across the alliance. By aligning academy programs and research agendas, and pairing them with the long-term exercise plan, the CSTO is aiming to standardize specialist training (from signals and EW to logistics and UAV operations), expand exchanges among defense universities, and convert lessons from recent drills into updated curricula. As chair, Kyrgyzstan is expected to circulate agreed proposals from this week’s sessions to the Council of Defense Ministers for inclusion in the 2026 training calendar and for incorporation into the 2026–2030 cooperation framework.

Joint Military Exercises

Joint Military Exercises to Strengthen Ties Between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan

News sources in Azerbaijan citing the Ministry of Defense of the Republic report that five nations, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan, are set to participate in a significant joint military exercise, signaling a coordinated effort to enhance military cooperation, strengthen regional security, and bolster strategic partnerships among the participating countries. Scheduled to take place in September, the Eternal Brotherhood-IV multinational exercise highlights the growing collaboration in defense and security among these countries, which share common geopolitical and strategic interests. Purpose and Objectives The forthcoming exercises aim to improve interoperability among the armed forces of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan. The participating nations - each with their unique military capabilities - are seeking to tackle evolving security challenges such as terrorism, regional instability, and transnational threats. Joint maneuvers will include combat training, search-and-rescue operations, sharing tactical expertise, and honing operational coordination in various combat scenarios. Geopolitical Significance The joint exercises underscore a shared commitment to regional peace and stability at a time of shifting dynamics in global geopolitics. With Central and South Asia witnessing challenges such as the ongoing threats from militant groups, border conflicts, and the need for safeguarding vital trade and energy routes, these drills offer participating nations the opportunity to showcase unity and resilience. As a NATO member, Turkey brings extensive military experience and technological support to the table, while Pakistan has counterterrorism expertise. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, with their strategic positions in Central Asia, bring a regional focus to the exercises, ensuring operational relevancy in the heart of Asia. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, is eager to strengthen ties with regional and global partners after its recent military successes. These exercises also send a clear message of the countries’ commitment to multilateral defense strategies to any external adversaries seeking to exploit regional vulnerabilities. A Broader Vision for Partnership The exercises will serve as a platform to test state-of-the-art defense technologies, develop combined operational strategies, and examine responses to scenarios involving asymmetric warfare and hybrid threats. For participating nations, it is an opportunity to refine their respective military tactics and elevate their personnel's proficiency by working alongside allies. Furthermore, the drills are expected to solidify political and military relationships among the nations, extending cooperation beyond defense into economic and strategic realms. By aligning priorities and enhancing mutual trust, the exercises could pave the way for future joint programs and initiatives aimed at fostering long-term collaboration. Such initiatives are especially relevant in the context of securing critical infrastructure projects like transnational pipelines and trade corridors. The joint military exercises are part of ongoing efforts to deepen relationships across Eurasia and South Asia through defense diplomacy. They reflect a broader vision of building an integrated regional security framework while respecting the sovereignty and unique needs of each nation involved. For the participating countries, the exercises are a strategic step toward achieving a stable and cooperative future in an increasingly uncertain global landscape.