US Offers Aid to Kazakhstan for Maritime Defense

The US continues its encroachment into Central Asia by aiding Kazakhstan with maritime defense. They are working on relations in military, economic and political spheres, all with oil as an underlying purpose.

Amid the growing tumult in the Central Asia's Kyrgyzstan, the United States is offering assistance to aid Kazakhstan in strengthening its maritime defense capabilities in the Caspian, U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan John Ordway told a news conference in Aktau (the administrative center of western Mangistau region) during an official visit. Ordway said, "Relations between the two countries in the sphere of military cooperation are developing well," particularly cooperation programs between Kazakhstan's Defense Ministry and the U.S. Department of Defense."

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US Offers Aid to Kazakhstan for Maritime Defense
Amid the growing tumult in the Central Asia's Kyrgyzstan, the United States is offering assistance to aid Kazakhstan in strengthening its maritime defense capabilities in the Caspian, U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan John Ordway told a news conference in Aktau (the administrative center of western Mangistau region) during an official visit. Ordway said, "Relations between the two countries in the sphere of military cooperation are developing well," particularly cooperation programs between Kazakhstan's Defense Ministry and the U.S. Department of Defense." The governor of the Mangistau region, Bolat Palymbetov, held a meeting with the U.S. air defense attaché Rick Lee, staff member of the embassy's military section Roger Bowman, the embassy's adviser for energy issues Christopher Panico, and the U.S. Agency for International Development program's Almaz Sharman. They discussed developing relations in the military, economic and political spheres. The U.S. delegation also held a number of meetings with energy company managers. Ordway discussed the potential for attracting U.S. investment, stating, "I know many U.S. companies which are showing an interest in working in western Kazakhstan and investing money. Heavy investment will be attracted to your region and (the western) Atyrau region over the next few years. The development of the Kashagan field (on the Caspian shelf) is the main driver in developing Kazakhstan's oil industry." The U.S. delegation also heard about the activities of Kazmortransflot, the Aktau port, and the Kazakh armed forces' Navy Institute.