North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Operations
August 19, 2013
NATO assists Kazakhstan Peace Keeping Battalion with Exercise Steppe Eagle
[Previous NATO-supported "peacekeeping" missions included one in Iraq from 2003-2008 and attempts to replicate that model in Afghanistan until it was blocked by MPs in the Kazakh parliament in 2011 - RR]
Steppe Eagle 2012
A small but compact team from SHAPE Military Partnership Directorate recently took part in Exercise Steppe Eagle 2013 at the Illiski military training area in Kazakhstan. The exercise was designed to practice the peace keeping procedures and capabilities of KAZBAT – the dedicated Kazakh peacekeeping battalion in line with NATO’s Operational Capabilities Concept Programme. This concept programme allows nations to practice NATO procedures and standards and enhance their interoperability through training and evaluation.
With 1260 military personnel taking part including ground support from USA, UK, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Sweden, Italy and Lithuania, the Military Partnership Directorate HQ carried out all evaluation functions. Observers from Spain, Germany, Belorussia and Ukraine also participated.
“Exercise Steppe Eagle 13 was a significant milestone in co-operation between NATO and Kazakhstan within the framework of PFP.” said Colonel Bardhyl Kollcaku, the Director of Military Partnership Directorate Co-ordination and Integration Division. “I was very pleased with the levels of co-operation, enthusiasm and information exchange displayed throughout, underpinning KAZBAT’s capability to conduct peace keeping operations he said.
KAZBAT has a great deal of experience in peacekeeping duties and saw extensive service from 2003-2008 in Iraq, conducting Ordnance Location and Disposal functions whilst also assisting in water production plants and medical facilities. Recently the Government of Kazakhstan announced their intention to participate in UN peacekeeping missions with the provision of approximately 200 personnel.
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