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Heappey's Diplomatic Triumph: Central Asia Strengthened

  Kazakhstan: Forging Partnerships and Peacekeeping Efforts

Minister Heappey Meets with Key Officials In a significant diplomatic mission, the UK's Minister for the Armed Forces, James Heappey, embarked on a visit to Central Asia this week, actively engaging in high-level talks aimed at enhancing security and defense collaboration. Throughout his journey, he traversed Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia, where he held meetings with defense leaders and military chiefs, with a resolute aim to strengthen international partnerships. In Kazakhstan on Tuesday, Minister Heappey held substantive discussions with prominent officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko, Deputy Defence Minister Lieutenant General Sultan Burkutbayevich Kamaletdinov, and members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Security of the Mazhilis of Parliament. Importantly, the focal point of their talks centered on exploring avenues for future cooperation, especially in the realm of peacekeeping missions. Additionally, Minister Heappey commended Kazakhstan for its support of the sanctions imposed on Russia in response to the conflict in Ukraine. For over two decades, the United Kingdom has actively contributed to the development of Kazakhstan's Peace Operations Centre (KAZCENT). Notably, this collaborative effort has significantly bolstered Kazakh deployments in peace support operations, such as UN missions in countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Lebanon, and Western Sahara. Crucially, the foundation of these efforts lies in the provision of military English language training by the UK.  

Uzbekistan: Regional Security and Historic Commemoration

Minister Engages in Security Talks and Pays Tribute Continuing his journey, Minister Heappey arrived in Uzbekistan on Wednesday. There, he engaged in regional security discussions with the Minister of Defence, Lieutenant General Bakhodir Kurbanov, and met with the Commander of the National Guard, General Rustam Jo’rayev. Additionally, he paid his respects at Victory Park in Tashkent by laying a wreath in honor of the Uzbek soldiers who sacrificed their lives during World War Two.  

Mongolia: Historic Visit and Peacekeeping Partnership

Minister Marks 60 Years of Diplomatic Relations Minister Heappey's tour concluded in Mongolia, marking a historic visit as the first British defense minister to the country. During his visit, he met with Defence Minister Gürsediin Saikhanbayar to discuss cooperation in the realm of peacekeeping missions. The relationship between the UK and Mongolia holds special significance, with their soldiers having served together in Afghanistan and as peacekeepers in South Sudan. Notably, 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of the UK becoming the first Western nation to establish diplomatic relations with Mongolia.  

Minister Heappey's Statement

In a statement, Minister for the Armed Forces, Rt Hon James Heappey MP, underscored the importance of these visits, explicitly aligning them with the strategic approach outlined in the recent Defence Command Paper. Furthermore, he emphasized the overarching objective of building strategic international partnerships across Asia in the interest of security and prosperity. Minister Heappey expressed his satisfaction with the productive discussions held with defense ministers and military leaders in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia. He highlighted the groundwork laid for future cooperation, particularly in the field of peacekeeping operations.  

Commitment to Strengthening Central Asian Engagement

Reiterating the United Kingdom's commitment, as explicitly outlined in the Integrated Review Refresh 2023, Minister Heappey emphatically emphasized the country's steadfast dedication to bolstering its engagement with Central Asian nations and Mongolia. Furthermore, this commitment aims to bolster their prosperity, enhance security, and fortify their resistance to Russian interference, all in alignment with the UK's broader international strategic goals.   Sources: THX News, Ministry of Defence & The Rt Hon James Heappey MP. Read the full article