Trilateral Dimension of Azerbaijan’s Military Cooperation with the Central Asian States

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are the most active Central-Asian partners of Azerbaijan in the military sphere. Tajikistan participates through multilateral formats such as the Birlestik 2024 military exercise. The trend toward stronger ties with Azerbaijan has been visible since 2022, after the Second Karabakh War.

Analysis suggests three factors that may make Azerbaijan attractive for expanding defence cooperation:

1. Relevant combat experience that interests Central-Asian states because of their shared Soviet past and reliance on Soviet- and Russian-made equipment.
2. Experience with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), especially in mountainous terrain, which appeals to Central-Asian countries eager to buy or locally produce drones.
3. Plans to deepen cooperation with Eastern-European countries on modernizing Soviet hardware. Several Central-Asian states have publicly noted that sanctions on Russia force them to look for Warsaw-Pact-standard equipment elsewhere. Slovakia’s prime minister highlighted this during a visit to Kazakhstan. Earlier, Kazakhstan’s defence ministry stated: "Sanctions may greatly affect continued operation of Soviet- and Russian-made arms, because deliveries of components and spare parts have virtually stopped."

Consequently, Kazakhstan is watching the arms market in Serbia, Czechia and Slovakia, where production and modernisation of Warsaw-Pact weapons and ammunition continue. At this stage, Azerbaijan has plans to expand cooperation in the field of military production with some countries in Eastern and Central Asia, such as the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Given the factors mentioned above, this direction may be quite interesting for Central Asian countries. It is quite typical for Azerbaijan to sign one-year plans of cooperation with several Central Asian states. This document covers joint military exercises, mutual exchanges, and military education.

The Caspian Security Dimension Influences the Growth of Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan

Baku and Astana traditionally brand each other "brotherly" states, and their defence partnership has become one of the most dynamic tracks within the Organisation of Turkic States and the CIS. Since 2022 both sides have followed a simple formula: "shared geography + complementary capabilities = joint force-building". The Caspian remains the main geostrategic theatre in which their interests almost fully coincide (energy, communications, maritime security). The near neighbourhood (South Caucasus, Central Asia, Afghanistan) creates demand for mobile, high-tech rapid-reaction forces and drones. Cooperation between two states intensified from 2022 and can be considered in several stages:

First stage (2022): "start-up synchronisation". Chiefs of general staff began exchanging visits and delegations began discussing cooperation topics such as military police and education. A political foundation was laid as both capitals elevated defence cooperation to a priority area of cooperation.

Second stage (2023): "field tests". The Caspian Sea hosted the first fleet manoeuvres "Khazri-2023". Delegations also shared experience in military medicine and ideological work. In October of the same year, a Kazakh delegation led by the Minister of Defence visited Azerbaijan. This tested naval-procedure compatibility and opened cooperation channels across several sectors.

Third stage (2024): "scaling and diversification". The arena expanded from sea to mountains and steppes. Azerbaijani and Kazakh troops jointly held the mountain exercises of special purpose units Altın Kıran 2024, the large command-post exercise Birlestik-2024 in Aktau, and a series of naval-commando courses in Baku.

Current stage (H1 2025): "technological phase". The flagship event was the UAV exercise Tarlan-2025 in Baku, showing the two countries mastering tactical and operational drones and counter-defense against unmanned aircraft systems together. Meanwhile joint naval exercises Khazri-2025 took place in Aktau, and Azerbaijan is demonstrating NATO’s Operational Capabilities Concept (OCC) practices and its planning–programming–budgeting system.

Key cooperation tracks

First, the maritime domain. The Khazri series and ship-group participation in Birlestik 2024 build lasting crew interoperability and allow exchange on anti-diversion operations and coastal-infrastructure defence.

Second, the air/UAV field. Tarlan trains joint counter-drone elements, laying the groundwork for a future cooperation in the management and countering of drones, countries could begin cooperation in the field of UAV engineering.

Third, special operations. Altın Kıran and the multinational Boundless Brotherhood series let the partners share combat know-how, where Azerbaijan offers drone-artillery linkage lessons from the Karabakh campaign, while Kazakhstan contributes mountain-raid practices.

Uzbekistan – Emphasis on Staff Training and High Technology

In February 2025, a significant step was taken in developing the bilateral partnership. At the IDEX 2025 international defence exhibition in Abu Dhabi, Mansurjon Ibodullaev, Director of the Defence Industry Agency under Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Defence, and Vugar Mustafayev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Defence Industry, signed a roadmap on military technical cooperation.

The document envisages collaboration between Azersilah Defence Industry Holding JSC and the Defence Industry Agency of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Defence. The parties discussed prospects for expanding cooperation in the military technical sphere and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.

Uzbekistan also builds its partnership with Azerbaijan mainly around staff preparation and high tech. The core events were computer-assisted command-post exercises UZAZ-2023 and Məharət-2024, each gathering several officers from both sides and rehearsing a full special-operations planning cycle in a digital environment. Parallel exchanges grow in mountain warfare and drones: Azerbaijani special-forces attend the Mountain Leader course at Chimgan, while Uzbek officers learn tactical-UAV employment at Azerbaijani air bases. The aviation cluster is reinforced by regular working visits of the air-force and air-defence commanders.

An additional area is ideological and psychological work: personnel departments swap morale-building methods that Baku sees as one key to its success in the recent conflicts. Overall, the expanding network of computer assisted command drills, specialist exchanges in mountain warfare, drones, and morale development is forging a nimble, digitally oriented defense partnership that elevates the operational synergy of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

Kyrgyzstan – A More Targeted Course So Far

Military cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan is developing steadily and systematically, reflecting the two countries’ shared aspiration to strengthen regional security in Central Asia and the Caucasus. In October 2024, Azerbaijani Defence Minister Colonel General Zakir Hasanov paid an official visit to Bishkek, where, together with his Kyrgyz counterpart, Lieutenant General Baktybek Bekbolotov, he discussed prospects for cooperation in the military, military technical and educational spheres. The talks culminated in the signing of the Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan for 2025, which sets clear guidelines for expanding joint programmes.

Parallel to this politico military dialogue, ties between the two countries’ defence industries are deepening. In Baku, Kyrgyz Ambassador Maksat Mamytkanov met Azerbaijani Minister of Defence Industry Vugar Mustafaev; they reviewed ongoing collaboration, opportunities for joint projects and Kyrgyzstan’s participation in the ADEX international defence exhibition. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has separately stressed that military technical cooperation with Baku is a priority for enhancing his country’s defence capabilities.

The partnership also manifests itself in multilateral formats. In July 2024, the command and staff exercise Birlestik 2024 took place at Kazakhstan’s Oymasha training area and in the Caspian Sea, bringing together troops from Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan to rehearse joint actions in a conflict zone. The legal foundation for today’s cooperation was laid by the 2004 Agreement on Military Cooperation, signed by defence ministers Safar Abiyev and Esen Topoyev, which provides for exchanges in military reform, medicine, education and military economic projects.

The signing of the 2025 plan confirms that Bishkek and Baku intend to develop long term, multi layered ties, combining bilateral initiatives with participation in regional defence formats to bolster stability and security across wider Eurasia.

Azerbaijan as a Strategic Bridge between Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Central-Asian states are keenly interested in the modernization of military equipment that Azerbaijan conducts with Eastern-European partners. Baku is linked to a string of production projects in that region. In May 2024 Slovakia and Azerbaijan signed a memorandum on military-technical cooperation and a full defence agreement.

These documents envisage joint production of weapons on Slovak sites financed by Azerbaijan. As experts argue, Zuzana and BIA self-propelled howitzers may be joint production. According to experts from Azerbaijan, agreements between Bratislava and Baku likely entails the joint production of 152 mm self-propelled howitzers and their ammunition. This logically extends Azerbaijan’s use of Czechoslovak DANA-M1 guns and RM-70 MRLs, first employed in the Second Karabakh War.

Serbia has become another major partner: in February 2024 President Aleksandar Vučić confirmed a contract with Azerbaijan worth about US $300 million. The contract includes Serbian-produced NORA B-52 (155 millimeter) self-propelled artillery. The deal gives Baku an entry to the Balkans and diversifies supplies beyond the usual Middle Eastern and Russian channels.

A central role in the upgrade programme is assigned to Czechia. The Czechoslovak Group conglomerate, together with Azerbaijan’s Sumgayit Technopark, has already overhauled 23 Shilka ZSU-23-4 SPAAGs: they now carry new radars able to track up to 100 targets at ranges of 20 km.

Azerbaijan is pursuing a comprehensive defense modernization strategy. At ADEX 2024 it showcased a modernized Su 25, upgraded by Turkey’s TUSAŞ to carry Turkish guided bombs and cruise missiles. The line up also included T 72 tanks fitted with Israeli fire control systems and Kontakt 5 ERA. In addition, Baku presented deeply upgraded ZSU 23 4 "Shilka" and 9K33 "Osa" SAMs. The latter can now detect a fighter at 60 km (previously 45 km) and track up to 150 targets simultaneously. Thus, Baku keeps Soviet platforms in service by integrating Western components and electronics.

For Central-Asian states, whose inventories still contain large amounts of Soviet-era hardware, Azerbaijan’s experience became especially valuable after its military successes. Interest spans several lines: combat employment, joint procurement, and shared upgrades.

Conclsuion

All initiatives revolve around modernizing ageing Soviet-era equipment, boosting logistics, and standardizing procedures (e.g., PPB, NATO Capability Concept). These upgrades help partners maintain what they already own rather than field new, offensive force packages. The signature exercises (Khazri, Birlestik, Tarlan) test defensive skills: maritime security, counter-UAS, mountain search-and-rescue rather than long-range strike or territorial seizure.

Geography keeps activities bounded to the Caspian basin and adjacent mountains/steppes; neither force structures nor logistics chains support operations beyond immediate neighbours.

Автор: Эльданиз Гусейнов, внештатный научный сотрудником Центра евразийских исследований им. Гейдара Алиева Университета им. Ибн Халдуна (Стамбул) // Специально для Cronos.Asia