Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the countries also plan to jointly repel threats from Afghanistan
DUSHANBE, April 27. /TASS/. The joint air defense system is being created by Russia and Tajikistan, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at talks with the head of the republic's military department, Sherali Mirzo, in Dushanbe on Tuesday.
"In order to increase the reliability of the state border protection in the airspace, we have prepared a draft agreement on the creation of a joint regional air Defense system of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan. I propose to sign this agreement at the end of the meeting, " Shoigu said.
Threats from Afghanistan
The situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating, and Russia and Tajikistan are working on planning a joint response to possible threats from this direction, Shoigu said.
"Against the background of the deterioration of the situation in neighboring Afghanistan, we are planning a joint response to possible threats, working out issues of practical cooperation during the exercises," he said.
Shoigu recalled that last week there were joint tactical exercises of the units of the 201st Russian military base stationed on the territory of the republic and the Armed Forces of Tajikistan.
The Russian Defense Minister stressed that Russia and Tajikistan have common tasks to ensure security and maintain stability in the Central Asian region. "With this in mind, we support the Tajik side. We pay special attention to bilateral cooperation in the field of defense, as well as to the functioning of the 201st Russian military base," he said.
Students in military universities
Russia is ready to increase the number of Tajik servicemen for training in military universities, and is also waiting for the military contingent of the republic at the strategic maneuvers "West-2021", the Russian Defense Minister continued.
"A number of exercises have been planned within the framework of the CSTO, and in September we are waiting for the Tajik military contingent at the joint strategic exercise West-2021," Shoigu said.
He noted that the Russian Federation, in order to strengthen the combat potential of the armed forces of the republic, supplies Russian weapons and equipment, trains qualified personnel for the Tajik army on a gratuitous basis in Russian military universities.
"Currently, we train more than five hundred of your military personnel, and up to a thousand junior specialists are trained annually on the funds of the 201st Russian military base. We are ready to increase the number of both trainees and specialties, " the Minister said.
Shoigu stressed that he was sincerely glad to meet and discuss topical issues of cooperation between the two countries in the field of defense.
He also personally invited representatives of the Ministry of Defense of Tajikistan to the Ninth Moscow Conference on International Security, the International Military-Technical Forum and the International Army Games. Further negotiations continued without the press.
