Photo: RIA Novosti
The Voice of Russia
By Sergey Duz
21 November 2013
Russia is hastily forming a rapid deployment force. Experts say that what is meant here first of all is searching for an adequate response to the threat of export of instability coming from Afghanistan, which is increasingly growing.
The majority of experts are unanimous in their opinion that Russia needs a military formation capable of quick deployment of its forces, or a rapid deployment force. Editor-in-Chief of the “Arsenal Otechestva” magazine and a member of the Public Council attached to the Military-Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation Viktor Murakhovsky says:
"Russia’s territory is huge – therefore, we can’t defend the whole country on its perimeter evenly because many forces and resources are needed for this. That is why we need a rapid deployment force, which can speedily react to military threats emerging in various parts of Russia. We need such forces which can be easily transferred to the Far East and to the south – in brief, to any region where a threat of military aggression can emerge."
Experts say that decisive steps in this direction have been taken by Russia just in time. After the NATO troops leave Afghanistan, the Kabul pro-Western government will fall, and the country will again be ruled by the Taliban. Hence, instability will start spreading to Central Asia. In such a situation the Russian rapid deployment force as part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) can become the “last chance” for that region. Lieutenant- General Alexander Mikhailov, a member of the Council on Foreign and Defence Policy under the Russian President, says:
"The establishment of the rapid deployment force, which will include the military contingents of a number of Central Asian countries, is a gratifying fact because united efforts ensure a quick reaction to emerging threats. Besides, it is one of the forms of integration. Reaching agreement on certain issues is not easy, especially when it concerns security interests, and united efforts facilitate eliminating the exterior enemy threat. The establishment of a rapid deployment force actually means the establishment of a military union. We should take into account the following circumstances: the opening of hostilities on the territories of countries whose military contingents make part of the rapid deployment force, and also the fact that the UN sanctions are needed for opening hostilities on alien territory."
Making forecasts is a hard job. However, it is clear now that after the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan Russia will assume the responsibility for the stability in Central Asia. A rapid deployment force will be an effective instrument for safeguarding stability at a proper level. And this will be beneficial for everybody on a large territory from Dushanbe to Brussels.
original article found here
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