The ‘American factor’ drives Russia and China together in Central Asia

The Collective Security Treaty Organisation, a Moscow-led security alliance consisting of several former Soviet republics, has held military drills near Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan

Russia and China have ‘every incentive’ to work together on keeping the US out of the region, analysts say

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Camouflaged Russian soldiers take part in a joint anti-terrorist exercise with the armed forces of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states. Photo: EPA

Published: 9:30pm, 23 Oct 2021Updated: 7:14am, 24 Oct 2021

Two months after the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, Russia is bolstering its military positions in neighbouring Central Asia.

But Moscow’s build-up in the region has also had ramifications for the United States and China, the two other great powers with aspirations for greater influence in Central Asia.

Whereas Russia has moved to block the Joe Biden administration’s attempts to establish a US military presence in the region, it has embraced China as a potential partner in the battle against terrorism.

The Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), a Moscow-led security alliance consisting of several former Soviet republics, launched military drills near Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan on October 18. The six-day exercise features more than 4,000 troops and 100 artillery systems, making it one of the bloc’s largest in recent years.

According to a description by Russia’s Central Military District, the drills were rehearsing a scenario in which militants from an unnamed “international terrorist organisation” attempted to cross the Afghan-Tajik border.

The exercises coincided with the visit of a high-level Taliban delegation to Moscow on October 20 to take part in Russian-led international talks on Afghanistan.

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