Russia Trains for Desert Warfare With Uzbekistan in New Military Alliance Drill

Russia and Uzbekistan have launched a joint military exercise titled Hamkorlik-2025, aimed at improving operational coordination and combat readiness in desert conditions.

According to the Uzbek Ministry of Defense, the training is taking place at the Termez general military range, located in the country’s southwestern military district.

The drills focus on coordinated operations to neutralize “illegal armed groups” and simulate special combat missions in arid environments.

The exercise involves around 400 personnel, including special operations forces from both countries. The Russian contingent has deployed military equipment for the drills, which are set to last ten days.

The primary goals, according to Uzbek officials, are to strengthen bilateral military cooperation, enhance command and control capabilities during special operations, and facilitate experience-sharing between the two armed forces. The drills are also designed to align joint tactics under modern operational requirements.

These activities follow the January 2025 signing of a bilateral defense cooperation plan, under which both nations committed to conducting 50 joint military engagements throughout the year. During the same meeting, defense ministers from Russia and Uzbekistan formalized a strategic cooperation roadmap covering 2026–2030.

Russia has also proposed establishing drone production in Uzbekistan as part of broader defense industry collaboration.

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Despite the growing partnership, Uzbekistan has maintained a legal stance on foreign military involvement. Earlier this year, a 25-year-old Uzbek citizen was sentenced to five years in prison for fighting in Russia’s war against Ukraine. The court found him guilty of mercenary activity.

Hamkorlik-2025 marks a continuation of Uzbekistan’s increasing engagement with Russian defense structures while balancing internal legal frameworks regarding foreign conflicts.

Earlier, on January 20, Uzbekistan Airways began rerouting its flights to Europe to avoid Russian and Belarusian airspace, citing precautionary measures and route optimization. The move came shortly after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev claimed that an AZAL plane was shot down over Russian territory on December 29.