Russian Iskander missiles on Kazakhstan border meant to put pressure on United States

Russia plans to build new special storage facilities for Iskander missile systems at a mere 100km (62ml) distance from the Kazakhstani border, Tengrinews wrote last week. If necessary, the tactical missiles can be swiftly moved on the territory of Kazakhstan; this is provided by the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) agreement between the two countries. Several experts have shared their opinion on the possible reasons of this move with Tengrinews.

Askar Shimpeev, Chairman of the Union of Combat Veterans and Participants of Peacekeeping Operations of Kazbat, believes that the deployment of Russian Iskander missiles on the border with Kazakhstan is a way to put some pressure on the United States while they will be withdrawing their troops from Afghanistan through Kazakhstan. Shimpeev also suggested that the deployment of missile complexes can be connected to the upcoming major CSTO military exercise on the ranges in Aktobe region, which borders the Russian region of Orenburg. In addition, Shimpeev said that CSTO forces could be used to resolve possible negative scenarios in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan that border on Kazakhstan from the south. 

According to Shimpeev, the U.S. might deliberately draw out the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan – a process which will be happening through Kyrgyzstan’s Manas airbase and Kazakhstan’s seaport in Aktau. And the large American contingent on the backyard of Russia would cause worries for the latter. Therefore, he concluded, the missile transfer was a “chess move”.

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