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Russo-U.S. Friction over Central Asian Region�@= KCNA News Analyst's Article

KCNA

    Pyongyang, August 16 (KCNA) -- Military moves of Russia and the United States in the Central Asian Region are now engaging attention of the international community. Russia is directing efforts to strengthening military ties with Central Asian nations.
    During the visit to Tajikistan of a delegation of the Russian Ministry of Defence headed by Alexandr Morozov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Army, the two countries agreed to establish a Russian military base in Tajikistan.
    Russia already built a modern airbase in Kant City, Kirgyzstan. 70 million rubles were invested in the strategic project. The base has an airstrip suitable for latest-type aircraft.
    Russian warplanes to be deployed in the base will be on a mission to airlift rapid deployment forces to the territories of the member nations of the Collective Security Treaty Organization -- Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kirgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan -- and support their military actions. It is the view of analysts that Russia is planning to form allied forces involving the countries.
    Meanwhile, Russia has staged military manoeuvres to increase the military capacity in this region. In July units of the North Caucasus Military District demonstrated methods of modern war and the might of sophisticated weapons through military exercises.
    The intensified military moves of Russia in this region are attributable to the U.S. efforts to establish the sphere of its military domination in the region.
    The United States, which carried out the Afghan war after the September 11 incident to pave the way of its military presence in the region, has challenged the Russian interests through the eastward expansion of NATO, the Iraqi war and indefinite military presence in the Central Asian region and other areas. It has revealed its intention to establish the sphere of its military domination in the Central Asian region, where Russia has long had concerns, by making use of NATO.
    On July 9 a NATO AWACS plane made a demonstration flight over Tbilisi.
    NATO plans to make AWACS aircraft make routine flights over Georgia for the purpose of always keeping Russian military movements under its surveillance without entering the Russian airspace.
    Some time ago, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said the country, in order to defend its security and interests, could not but takes countermeasures against NATO military moves.
    The United States has had military contacts with not only Georgia but also Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kirgyzstan and other nations in this region to put them in the sphere of NATO's military influence and contain Russia in military and strategic way.
    On the other hand, Russia is boosting bilateral and multilateral relations with Central Asian countries in political, economic, military and all other fields, while calling for the establishment of .a multipolar world and enhancing its position in the international arena.
    Russian President Putin said Russia should become a strong and competitive country in today's hard and bitter race for expanding political and economic influence.
    All the facts imply that the friction between Russia and the United States will get acute as regards the strategic interests in the Central Asian region.