The Kazakh Defense Ministry said on July 8 that its armed forces, along with those from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, had begun joint military maneuvers on the shores of the Caspian Sea in western Kazakhstan. The Association-2024 drills, scheduled to run until July 17, are taking place at the Oimasha military test field and the Cape of Toqmaq in the Kazakh region of Manghystau. In all, up to 4,000 military personnel from the five countries and almost 700 pieces of military equipment and vehicles are taking part in the exercises. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, click here.