#Iran and #Tajikistan Announce Formation of Joint #Military Committee

source: https://jamestown.org/program/iran-and-tajikistan-announce-formation-of-joint-military-committee/

So while Iran and Tajikistan have motivations to cooperate, these three other countries—Russia, #China and #Turkey—have their own reasons for being concerned about this development. #Russia opposes any outside involvement in the former Soviet space, especially in the security area. And while it may welcome Iran’s countering Turkish #influence in Central #Asia, it is likely to be concerned that Iran’s cooperation with Tajikistan could actually exacerbate pro-Turkic feelings elsewhere. Furthermore, Russia may worry about the way in which Iranian #cooperation with Tajikistan will make it easier for China to promote transportation routes to #Europe that bypass Russia—a perennial fear in #Moscow ...

#politics #news #CentralAsia #security