At a recent session of the Collective Security Council of the CSTO held in Bishkek, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that for the past several decades, the Collective Security Treaty Organization has ensured security and stability on the Eurasian continent, as well as protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its member states.
In the context of the current geopolitical tensions, he stated, it is important to focus on promoting the collective interests of CSTO countries.
The Russian Federation intends to hold an international expert forum in Moscow in 2026, which will precede the upcoming CSTO summit. The theme of the forum will be the creation of a regional and global security architecture in Eurasia. This event is planned to involve not only member states but also delegations from friendly countries and multilateral associations, Putin reported.
The head of state emphasized that Russia will continue active cooperation with its allies on strengthening military capabilities.
The main efforts will be directed towards enhancing the combat readiness of national contingents and improving the management of collective forces. Putin proposed launching a large-scale program to equip these forces with modern samples of Russian weapons that have been successfully used in real combat operations.
In this context, a number of joint activities for the training of military units and special services are planned, including regular exercises. Putin also highlighted the need to develop air forces and air defense systems, as well as to improve the mechanisms for deploying peacekeeping forces.
A key priority of Russia's chairmanship will be the development of cooperation to ensure the technological leadership of the CSTO in the military field, with an emphasis on deepening interaction between defense industry enterprises. Russia will also support the use of advanced achievements in military medicine by collective forces.
In addition, Russia will continue to assist member states in the field of sanitary and epidemiological well-being and work together to prevent and respond to outbreaks of dangerous diseases. Putin expressed hope for increased effectiveness of the Coordinating Council for Security, established at Russia's initiative in 2021.
As part of the chairmanship, the development of a new anti-terrorism strategy aimed at actively countering extremism is planned. The work will focus on identifying and eliminating international terrorist groups and their cells, as well as preventing the financing of such organizations. Information security will also remain one of the main priorities.
Russia intends to actively cooperate with allies to combat the spread of radical ideologies among youth and take additional steps to protect the common information space from such threats. Putin emphasized the importance of continuing the anti-drug operation "Channel" with the involvement of international participants.
Among the promising tasks is the enhancement of the organization’s information and analytical potential and the expansion of the network of auxiliary and advisory mechanisms.
Considering the increasing tasks facing the Secretariat and the Joint Staff of the CSTO, Putin proposed to focus on improving their efficiency and structural optimization, as well as creating conditions for attracting qualified specialists to joint work,” he concluded.
