Rank #71 · Eurasia
Kazakhstan fields the largest military in Central Asia by budget, spending an estimated $1.5 billion on defence in 2025 while formally remaining a member of the Russia-led CSTO. Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Astana has carefully distanced itself from Moscow — refusing to recognise the annexed territories and blocking sanctions evasion — while preserving deep equipment and training ties inherited from the Soviet era.
Kazakhstan's defence budget has grown modestly in nominal terms through 2024-2025, driven by inflation and currency effects rather than a structural buildup. The MoD funds conscript-based ground forces, an Air Defence Force operating MiG-29s and Su-27s, and a small Caspian flotilla. The broader security sector — incorporating the National Security Committee (KNB), Border Service, and National Guard — inflates the headline security figure. Su-30SM deliveries contracted from Russia represent the largest near-term procurement commitment. Economic dependence on hydrocarbon revenues limits long-term budget flexibility.
The Armed Forces of Kazakhstan comprise Ground Forces, Air Defence Forces, Naval Forces (Caspian Sea only), Air Assault Forces, and Special Forces. Active strength is approximately 110,000 with 135,000 reserves. The Air Defence Forces operate MiG-29s and Su-27s alongside ageing S-300 surface-to-air missile batteries. The Caspian Flotilla numbers roughly 3,000 personnel and fourteen patrol craft. Conscription requires one year of service for males aged 18-27. Kazakhstan has hosted joint CSTO exercises and contributes to SCO security frameworks, though participation in Russia-led operations has become politically sensitive post-2022.
Kazakhstan's domestic defence industry is nascent. Kazakhstan Engineering conglomerate assembles armoured vehicles and maintains Soviet-era equipment, and the Uralsk Machine Building Plant produces artillery components. Most platforms — tanks, fighter aircraft, air-defence missiles — are imported from or licensed from Russia. France's Airbus Helicopters has supplied Caracal (EC725) utility helicopters for VIP and SAR roles. Astana has expressed interest in diversifying suppliers toward Turkey, France, and South Korea, though contractual and logistical ties to Russian systems remain dominant. Domestic defence R&D spending is minimal.
Kazakhstan faces no active external military conflict. Internal security concerns include Islamist extremism along the Afghan corridor and cross-border drug trafficking. The January 2022 civil unrest (Bloody January) prompted a brief CSTO peacekeeping deployment — the first in the alliance's history — underscoring Kazakhstan's dependence on Russian security guarantees while simultaneously revealing political tensions within that relationship. Astana carefully manages relations with both Moscow and Western capitals, avoiding direct involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war while honouring CSTO treaty obligations on paper.
Kazakhstan refused to attend the May 2025 CSTO summit in Moscow, citing scheduling conflicts — a widely read diplomatic signal. Su-30SM fighters delivered under a 2023 contract began entering service with the Air Defence Forces in late 2024. Kazakhstan participated in UN peacekeeping missions in Lebanon and Western Sahara through 2025. President Tokayev announced a modest defence modernisation programme in 2025 including upgrades to the Buk-M2 SAM fleet. Kazakhstan-Turkey defence cooperation expanded with a framework agreement signed in 2024 covering drone technology sharing and joint production feasibility studies.
Approximately $1.5 billion per year on core defence, representing under 1% of GDP. Broader security-sector spending (border forces, National Security Committee, National Guard) pushes the total security envelope higher. Kazakhstan is the largest military spender in Central Asia by MoD budget.
No. Kazakhstan belongs to the Russia-led CSTO and the SCO, and holds an Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO — a cooperation framework short of membership. Since 2022 Astana has cooled toward CSTO obligations while stopping far short of a NATO alignment.
No. Kazakhstan voluntarily relinquished the Soviet nuclear arsenal stationed on its territory under the 1992 Lisbon Protocol and joined the NPT as a non-nuclear state. It operates the Semipalatinsk test site — now closed — and is a strong advocate for nuclear non-proliferation in Central Asia.
The Air Defence Forces operate MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters inherited from the Soviet era, plus newly delivered Su-30SM multirole jets contracted from Russia. Attack helicopters include Mi-24/35 variants; utility roles are filled by Mi-8/17s and French-supplied Caracal EC725s.