Kazakhstan to take part in Center 2019 strategic exercise - Russian Chief of General Staff
MOSCOW. March 13 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan will take part in a Russian strategic command post exercise, Russian Armed Forces' Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Defense Minister Valery Gerasimov said.
"This year's plans involve a number of important events of operative and combat training. Chief among them is the participation by a Kazakh military contingent in the Center 2019 strategic command post exercise," Gerasimov said at a meeting with Kazakh Chief of the General Staff Murat Maikeyev.
Kazakhstan is Russia's main strategic ally and closest partner in Central Asia, Gerasimov said. The two are cooperating successfully not only bilaterally but also within the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, he said.
"We are perfecting our joint regional air defense system and jointly planning deployment of Russia's and Kazakhstan's armed forces. We are also actively involved in military-technical cooperation and training military cadres," Gerasimov said.
A good exchange of delegations, by traditional standards, has been organized in various areas of military activity, he said.
"Also possible is a wide spectrum of practical cooperation in the fight against international terrorism. Given the current military-political situation, I consider this matter to be important," Gerasimov said.