After the Kremlin’s master Vladimir Putin started the war against Ukraine, the former Soviet republics began to diversify their military arsenal much more actively, aiming to no longer be so dependent on the country that considers the “near abroad” its sphere of unconditional influence, writes the news portal “The Caspian Post”.
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The article analyzes that for a long time China was primarily a trade and investment partner for the Central Asian countries, but now it is rapidly conquering their defense market.
Beijing sells these countries drones, transport aircraft, armored vehicles, and air defense systems, finances border security infrastructure, and expands cooperation with regional security forces.
For example, Turkmenistan acquired long-range (HQ-9) and medium-range (HQ-12) air defense missile systems, while Uzbekistan obtained the long-range air defense system “FD-2000”, similar to the “HQ-9”. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have also shown readiness to integrate Chinese equipment into their air forces: the former apparently recently received four multirole fighters “Chengdu J-10CE” and possibly agreed on the supply of another 20 units, writes “Eurasianet”. Meanwhile, the latter already operates eight Chinese-made military transport aircraft “Y-8F-200”.
Air defense is one of the most important and sensitive elements of national security, so the inclusion of a new supplier has significant strategic consequences, notes “The Caspian Post”.
It is explained that each country essentially allows such a partner to become part of its airspace defense system. The same applies to fighters. Moreover, acquiring such systems creates long-term ties with the supplier, who will supply missiles, spare parts, engines, software, upgrade services, and provide personnel training for years, or even decades.
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Chinese weapons are rapidly filling the arsenals of Central Asian countries, despite the fact that Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, together with Russia, are members of the military alliance – the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
However, Tajikistan even boldly displays Chinese equipment in parades in Dushanbe, noted the defense analytics company “Janes”. Among other things, it purchased armored personnel carriers, armored vehicles, self-propelled mortars, and firearms from Beijing.
China also finances the construction and expansion of security facilities along the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border, including its transport corridor and protection of investments in the economies of Central Asian countries.
The regional states also buy drones from China, which has become especially relevant as a “drone war” has largely emerged in the nearby conflict in Ukraine. Thus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan have filled their arsenals with combat drones “Wing Loong” and “CH-3A”.
According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), total arms exports from Russia decreased by 64% in 2021–2025 compared to 2016–2020, and its share in the global export market shrank from 21% to 6.8%.
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