U.S. Air Forces Central and the Montana Army and Air National Guard collaborated with the Kyrgyz Republic for the Ak Shumkar 2025 exercise from June 23 to June 27. The exercise aimed to enhance partnerships and improve interoperability among forces in Central Asia.
Ak Shumkar 2025, led by Kyrgyzstan, allowed U.S. Airmen to train alongside Kyrgyz military and civilian counterparts on various topics such as Humanitarian Assistance, Disaster Relief, Aeromedical Evacuation, Search and Rescue, and Border Security.
“The inaugural Ak Shumkar exercise represented a significant step forward in strengthening security cooperation with our Kyrgyz partners,” stated U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen Derek France, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) Commander. He emphasized that the exercise helped build a foundation for enduring collaboration through shared experiences and personal connections.
The Montana National Guard has maintained a relationship with the Kyrgyz Republic since 1996 via the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program. Over three decades, both nations have engaged at multiple levels through this program. Ak Shumkar served as a platform for further engagement between them.
Beyond the State Partnership Program, U.S. and Kyrgyz militaries have routine interactions through U.S. Central Command’s Regional Cooperation exercise series. This initiative provides opportunities for Central Asia and South Asian states to work towards collective security objectives.
“The Kyrgyz have invested in strengthening our bilateral partnership through security cooperation over the last three decades,” said Lesslie Viguerie, U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic. “Ak Shumkar offered incredible opportunities for our combined forces to share their expertise to increase regional stability through collaboration.”
Participation by the U.S. Air Force and National Guard Bureau in Ak Shumkar 2025 reinforced bilateral partnerships with Kyrgyzstan through focused exchanges on key topics of mutual interest aimed at safeguarding sovereignty and securing long-term regional stability.
Imagery of operations within the U.S. Air Forces Central theater is available via the Defense Visual Information Distribution service at https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/AFCENT.