Military-political Relations Between Russia and Turkey in the Context of the Kazakhstan Crisis of Winter 2021-2022

Abstract

The article examines the current aspects of military-political relations between Russia and Turkey in the light of the events related to the protests and riots in Kazakhstan in January 2022. Building constructive relations with the Central Asian states, primarily Kazakhstan, is a significant vector of the foreign policy line of modern Turkey in the last decade (2012-2022). To implement this vector of its foreign policy, Turkey is working in various areas of interstate cooperation from trade and economic to military-political cooperation. The political crisis in Kazakhstan in January 2022 became a test for the multi-vector foreign policy of the state, due to the weak reaction of Turkey to these events. Russia, was able to respond promptly to the events in Kazakhstan by providing military and political support to President K.Zh. Tokayev. The study identifies Turkey's current interests in the Central Asian region and examines their compatibility with the aspirations of the post-Soviet states of Central Asia. It examines common interests, as well as differences in views between key players in the region. While Kazakhstan and Turkey have found a common language in trade, cultural exchange and arms trade, they have somewhat contradictory positions on political Islam and state sovereignty. Despite the growing influence of Turkey in the Central Asian region in economic and political relations, Russia is neutral about the strengthening of Turkey's position, taking into account the preservation of the dominant Russian presence in the structure of economic and political life of Kazakhstan.