Tajikistan - United States relations and security issues

The article analyzes the diplomatic, military and political, economic and other forms of cooperation between the Republic of Tajikistan and the United States. The author explores the factors contributing to the need for cooperation of the countries in various fields, as well as prospects for mutual relations between the countries. The article notes the intensity and the recent increase of bilateral cooperation between the countries. It gives examples of formation and development of the legal framework for cooperation in various fields working for security and safety of the Tajik-Afghan border. Conducted is a specific analysis of some important bilateral agreements and mil-itary-political factors that contribute to the need for United States military presence in Tajikistan. Especially important in this regard is the United States cooperation with Tajikistan, which plays an important geopolitical, raw and transit role in Afghanistan. It should be immediately noted that Tajikistan and the United States are one of the primary military and strategic partners due to a number of geopolitical, economic and military factors. Considerable attention is paid to cooperation between Tajikistan and the United States in the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking, arms smuggling. Cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Tajikistan in the field of military-technical cooperation is carried out through two programs: Foreign Military Financing, which is financed by the armed forces of the Republic of Tajikistan, and the International Military Education and Training, which implies grant allocation for foreign countries military cooperation and security. The Republic of Tajikistan and the United States signed over 30 documents governing the legal base, including 11 in trade and economic sphere and 6 in the sphere of military-technical cooperation, the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking. Joint struggle against the aforementioned phenomena, including human trafficking, makes the United States strongly associated with Tajikistan. The United States has been the major humanitarian and developmental aid donor and for resettlement of displaced persons. The author gives evidence of significant financial assistance to Tajikistan United States in economic and military fields. Over the period FY1992-FY2010, the United States budgeted $988.57 million of aid for Tajikistan, mainly for food and other humanitarian needs. The United States also facilitated the delivery of privately donated commodities. Budgeted assistance for FY2011 was $44.48 million and for FY2012 was $45.1 million, and the Administration requested $36.4 million in foreign assistance for Tajikistan in FY2014. Bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and the United States, which is conducted on the basis of principles for the protection and promotion of national interests, becomes richer and wider year by year.