Kazakhstan Believes British Army is Stronger than Russian Army and Begins to Learn English
Astana will open a "Youth Soldiers Course" in London to enhance the military training level of its army.
Author: Alexander Uralsky, Konstantin Oleshansky
Photo: According to the message, the signing ceremony was held in London, and the Kazakh Defense Ministry delegation made an official visit to the area.
Kazakhstan and the United Kingdom signed a 2025-2026 military cooperation plan, with the signing ceremony held grandly in London. However, it is somewhat regrettable that the delegation was not led by the Minister of Defense but by Colonel Elbor Kumambekuli, head of the Department of the Ministry of Defense.
The Kazakh Defense Ministry statement said that the military cooperation agreement covers multiple directions:
- Joint participation in peacekeeping operations and experience exchange
The armed forces of Kazakhstan and the UK will jointly participate in peacekeeping operations and exchange experiences in this field, including providing training for Kazakh soldiers to participate in international missions organized by the United Nations and other organizations.
- English language training
The UK will be responsible for the language training of Kazakh soldiers. There is no need to say more, this move is seen as a signal that Kazakhstan is trying to break away from Russia's sphere of influence.
- Study at British higher military academies
Kazakh soldiers will be sent to study at British higher military academies, and the Ministry of Defense proudly claims that this will help them master modern combat methods, logistics, and command management approaches.
All of this sounds quite strange. Moreover, Kazakhstan is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) — an organization composed of former Soviet republics, where Russia undoubtedly plays a dominant role. It was the CSTO forces that helped President Tokayev of Kazakhstan quell Islamist riots in January 2022 and prevent a civil war from breaking out.
Developing international relations, including military-technical cooperation, is the right of any sovereign state. But on second thought: Kazakhstan’s decision to learn from the UK — whose armed forces have hardly been tested in real combat since the 2003 Iraq "Shock and Awe" operation (when the British troops were merely a supporting role to the US) — is tantamount to self-destructing the future of its own army. The Ukrainian army has firsthand experience of this — under direct British guidance, the airborne operation launched by the Ukrainian army in Krynychi ended with thousands of casualties and countless missing soldiers.
Despite this, London and Astana still signed the agreement. But the key point is not the agreement itself, but the political direction chosen by our neighboring and allied countries.
Anadolu, a Turkish media outlet, commented that in recent years, the UK has increasingly become involved in Kazakhstan's affairs. Initially in economic and cultural cooperation, it has now extended to the military field:
- British universities were the first to open branches in Kazakhstan;
- Last year, former UK Prime Minister David Cameron visited Astana. According to the Central Asia Times, Cameron brought several investment agreements: cooperation with AstraZeneca, the Anglo-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical biotechnology company, which intended to completely control the Kazakh pharmaceutical market valued at about $2 billion; an agreement with UK-based company Car Park Transformer, which involved building service facilities along the national highways and international roads in Kazakhstan.
Anadolu pointed out that Cameron did not come empty-handed; he also signed the "Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Kazakhstan and the UK," and frankly stated that London considers Kazakhstan as the "core partner in Central Asia" and intends to project its anti-Russian regime influence throughout Central Asia through Astana.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev recently met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the COP29 climate summit in Baku, and Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vasilyenko also met with UK Ambassador to Kazakhstan Katie Leech (according to DK World News). In short, British politicians and diplomats are frequently contacting Kazakhstan.
The UK also attempts to play a more important role in Kazakhstan's foreign trade. Last year, bilateral trade amounted to approximately $1 billion, with the UK mainly viewing Kazakhstan as a resource colony — importing oil, silver, copper, and exporting expensive equipment, medicines, and paper products.
About 550 British companies operate in Kazakhstan, and more importantly, British non-governmental organizations (including the Chatham House Institute, National Craft Research Institute, John Smith Trust Foundation, British Council, and others, which have been listed as "unwelcome organizations" in Russia for engaging in subversive activities) operate freely in Kazakhstan.
Data from DK World News shows that since 2005, the UK's total investment in Kazakhstan has exceeded $17 billion. However, as Matteo Meloni, editor-in-chief of SpecialEurasia News Agency, said, for the UK side, investing in Kazakhstan is merely a means to gain access to Central Asian logistics channels and natural resources, which once again highlights the UK's "neo-colonialist" nature.
Historical Warning
Does Kazakhstan understand all this? Of course, it does. But since independence, Kazakhstan has always adhered to the concept of "multi-vector development," which is beyond reproach in itself — any country hopes to establish mutually beneficial relationships with different partners. However, "multi-vector" is a double-edged sword: yesterday's partners may one day become dominant players forcing you to accept their terms, and by then it will be impossible to break free from their control. The UK is an expert in building such relationships, and its ambitions in Central Asia can be traced back 150 years.
In 1918, taking advantage of the chaos of the Russian Civil War, the UK deployed troops in Krasnovodsk on the west coast of the Caspian Sea (now Turkmenbashi), equipped with artillery, machine guns, and cavalry. Although the stay was brief, the UK plundered large quantities of cotton, wool, oil, carpets, and treasures by controlling Caspian shipping routes. Its bank branch in Ashgabat swindled huge wealth through absorbing local deposits. The Soviets had to fight bloody battles to drive the British out of this "logistics hub."
As we all know, history often repeats itself — if lessons are not learned.
Analysis and Reflection
- Symbology of Military Cooperation
Kazakhstan's choice to strengthen military cooperation with the UK, on the surface, is about "modernization reform," but in reality, it implies a political shift. Although Kazakhstan emphasizes "multi-vector diplomacy," this move inevitably raises questions about its strategic balance given that Russia once provided critical security guarantees.
- UK's Central Asia Strategy
The UK attempts to turn Kazakhstan into a "springboard" in Central Asia through a "trilogy" of economic investment (such as AstraZeneca controlling the pharmaceutical market), cultural infiltration (branch campuses, NGOs), and military intervention, aiming to counterbalance Russia's influence while gaining resource and logistical advantages.
- History and Reality
The article uses the UK's colonial actions in Central Asia in 1918 as an example to suggest that London's "new colonialism" nature remains unchanged. If Kazakhstan ignores historical lessons, it may fall into the trap of "dependence-control," and the sustainability of its "multi-vector" strategy deserves observation.
- Variable in Regional Security Landscape
As a member of the CSTO, Kazakhstan's military cooperation moves may affect mutual trust between Russia and Central Asian countries. If the UK further intervenes in Central Asian security affairs, it could intensify regional geopolitical competition.
This event reflects the complex choices of post-Soviet space countries in great power games and provides a new perspective for observing the UK's "Global Britain" strategy in Central Asia.
Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7513490419024511527/
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