Vladimir Putin: “Considerable attention was paid to the development of combat training for the CSTO Collective Forces”

Meeting of the CSTO Collective Security Council
Photo: Kremlin.ru

Considerable attention was paid to the development of combat training for the CSTO Collective Forces during Russia’s chairmanship in the organization in 2026, President Vladimir Putin told an expanded meeting of the CSTO Collective Security Council.

He said that the CSTO needs an agreement between the parties on a joint rapid response to epidemic threats.

TASS has compiled the key statements made by the Russian leader.

Vladimir Putin at the meeting of the CSTO Collective Security Council
Photo: Kremlin.ru

Development of Collective Forces

Important decisions on further development of the CSTO Collective Forces will be made at the organization’s summit in Moscow: "Today we will have to make important decisions regarding further development of the CSTO Collective Forces. This includes, among other things, their aviation component, as well as the formation of mobile air defense units for joint military operations."

Much attention was paid to combat training of the CSTO Collective Forces during Russia’s chairmanship of the organization in 2026: "Considerable attention has traditionally been paid to improving the operational and combat training of the forces and resources of the collective security system."

Draft final declaration

The draft final declaration reflects the common approaches of the CSTO countries to the current situation in the world and in the region: "Common approaches to the current situation in the world and in our region, the vision of the CSTO's priority areas of development are reflected in the draft declaration of the Collective Security Council, which, at the initiative of Russia, is meant to be approved at today's meeting."

Biosafety and epidemic control

The partnership of the CSTO states in maintaining the biosafety and fighting dangerous infections has widened: "The partnership of the CSTO states in maintaining the biosafety and countering the spread of dangerous infections has noticeably intensified."

The international epidemiological situation is difficult: "The situation in the world in the field of epidemiological safety is not simple."

The CSTO countries are in very close contact with each other and with the outside world: "Our countries have a lot of contacts with the outside world. And the import of a pathogen into one of our countries endangers all others."

The organization needs a close exchange of information to combat the possible importation of pathogens: "A system of constant information exchange and practical work is needed here."

The CSTO needs an agreement between the nations on an operational joint response to the danger of epidemics: "From the point of view of strengthening the common regulatory framework, this is, of course, primarily the preparation and subsequent signing of an agreement on cooperation between the CSTO states in this area."

The situation in Afghanistan

The CSTO is closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan to maintain border security: "In the context of strengthening security along the perimeter of the external borders of our organization, the situation in Afghanistan was also under close attention."

Plans for next year

The year 2027 will be significant for the CSTO, as the association will celebrate two anniversaries at once: "The next 2027 year of our organization is significant in many ways. Two anniversaries will be celebrated simultaneously: the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Collective Security Treaty and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the CSTO."

Meeting of the CSTO Collective Security Council
Photo: Kremlin.ru

Armenia loses voting rights in CSTO over debt obligations

The leaders of the CSTO member states decided at their summit in Moscow to deprive Armenia of its voting rights, and Yerevan will also no longer be able to nominate its representatives to responsible positions in the organization. The decision to apply Article 25 of the CSTO Charter was approved during the meeting. According to Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has previously "repeatedly stated that Armenia has lost interest in participating in the CSTO."

At the CSTO summit, a decision was made to deprive Armenia of its voting rights, said Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov. He noted that the decision was made "because Armenia has not been fulfilling its obligations for several years."

According to him, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has previously "repeatedly stated that Armenia has lost interest in participating in the CSTO."

Earlier, Pashinyan said he supports the republic’s expulsion from the CSTO and would be pleased if that happened. According to him, the country does not intend to intensify its work within the CSTO over the next five years, and Armenia’s interest in the CSTO has waned.

In September 2024, Pashinyan said that Yerevan had frozen its participation in CSTO’s work, as, according to him, the organization had created threats to the republic’s sovereignty.

In 2024, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said that Yerevan is assessing all the risks associated with the decision to withdraw from the CSTO. In December of the same year, the Armenian prime minister said that relations between Armenia and the CSTO had passed the point of no return.

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