Astana, Aug 21 (EFE) – NATO will take part in the training of Kazakhstan’s peacekeeping units under a cooperation framework that both sides pledged to deepen this week, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
The issue was discussed between NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Belgium, the European Union and NATO, Roman Vassilenko, after the ambassador presented his credentials in Brussels.
“Roman Vassilenko noted that the main goal of cooperation with NATO for Kazakhstan is the preparation of peacekeeping units of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan for deployment as part of peacekeeping missions under the auspices of the UN,” the ministry said in a statement.
Strengthening Kazakhstan’s peacekeeping capacity
Following the talks, both sides agreed to continue developing cooperation to strengthen the peacekeeping capacity of Kazakhstan’s armed forces.
The initiative builds on Kazakhstan’s growing engagement in multilateral security frameworks. Peacekeeping deployments are seen as a way to expand its role on the international stage
Longstanding ties between Kazakhstan and NATO
Vassilenko, appointed in July 2025, represents a country that has been linked to NATO since 1994 under the Partnership for Peace framework.
This program promotes joint planning, training, and exercises for peacekeeping, humanitarian, and multinational operations, while also working toward long-term interoperability with NATO forces. EFE