Kazakhstan's military doctrine strictly defensive - president

NUR-SULTAN. May 6 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan relies on diplomacy in the protection of national interests, yet an enhancement of its defense capacity acquires special significance amid the unprecedented geostrategic tensions on the world stage, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a meeting dedicated to Fatherland Defender Day.

"The president pointed out that the military doctrine of our country is strictly defensive and we rely on diplomacy in the protection of national interests. Tokayev noted that our foreign policy has a constructive, balanced nature. It aims to protect national interests, and we maintain friendly relations with all countries," the presidential press service said on Friday.

"However, an enhancement of national defense capacities acquires special significance to us, given the unprecedented geostrategic tensions on the world stage," the press service quoted Tokayev as saying.

An enhancement of international military-technical cooperation is yet another important priority of Kazakhstan, he said.

"The Kazakh army has earned international recognition with its peacekeeping activity. We deployed our peacekeepers for the first time to Tajikistan in the 1990s. Kazakh troops have successfully served as members of UN and OSCE missions. Nowadays, our peacekeeping contingents are present in Lebanon and Western Sahara," Tokayev said.