Which countries are part of the CSTO. Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)

Recipes 06.09.2019

System formation collective security in the post-Soviet space began almost immediately after the collapse of the USSR. So, on February 14, 1992, a decision was made to create the Council of Defense Ministers (CMO) and the High Command of the Joint Armed Forces of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS Joint Armed Forces), and on March 20 of the same year, the Joint Forces Agreement for the transitional period was signed.

Thus, an attempt was made to preserve a common defense space and transform the former Soviet Army into a single armed force for all CIS members. However, in parallel with this, diametrically opposite trends developed and intensified - many former republics of the USSR began to form their own armies. This actually led to the division and nationalization of the new independent states armed forces, equipment and property Soviet army stationed in their territories.

Thus, already in the spring of 1992, it became clear that it was impossible to keep the CIS centralized army under unified control. There were many reasons for this: from the strengthening of centrifugal forces and the collapse of the command and control system to the conflicts that broke out between the former republics of the USSR. At the same time, the leadership of the majority of the republics had a growing understanding of the need for qualitatively new forms and mechanisms of integration in the military-political sphere, which would make it possible to create a more effective security system with significantly lower economic, scientific and technical costs, and reduce the escalation of armed conflicts in the post-Soviet space. It was with these factors in mind that on May 15, 1992, in Tashkent, the representatives of Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan concluded the Collective Security Treaty. During September - December 1992, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Republic of Belarus acceded to the Treaty.

On April 20, 1994, immediately after the submission of instruments of ratification by the signatory states, the Treaty entered into force. On November 1, 1995, the agreement was registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations, in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of which the CST was concluded.

After the entry into force of the Treaty, a number of important legal documents were adopted that promoted the process of military

political integration in the various fields within its competence. Among them, it is worth noting the “Declaration of the States Parties to the Collective Security Treaty” and the “Concept of Collective Security of the States Parties to the Collective Security Treaty” adopted in 1995. In the same year, the “Plan for the Implementation of the Collective Security Concept” and the “Main Directions for Deepening Military Cooperation” were adopted, which set the task of organizing regional systems of collective security. Approved in 1999, the "Plan for the second stage of the formation of a collective security system" already provided for the formation of regional coalition groupings of troops in the Eastern European, Caucasian and Central Asian directions.

At the Session of the Collective Security Council on April 2, 1999 in Moscow, the “Protocol on the Extension of the Collective Security Treaty” was signed and then ratified. The Protocol provided for the automatic extension of the term of the Treaty for successive five-year periods.

Qualitatively new stage in the development of the Treaty was opened adopted by the Council collective security in 2000 with the "Memorandum on Improving the Effectiveness of the Collective Security Treaty and Its Adaptation to the Current Geopolitical Situation", the implementation of which aimed the Treaty at repelling new challenges and threats to the regional and international security.

At the same time, the “Regulations on the procedure for making and implementing collective decisions on the use of forces and means of the collective security system”, “Model of the regional system of collective security”, “Basic provisions of the coalition strategy” were approved, designed to form the organizational and legal basis for the activities of the Collective Security Treaty in the field of ensuring on the collective basis of its security participating States.

Signed in 2000-2001, the “Agreement on the status of formations of forces and means of the collective security system” and the “Protocol on the procedure for the formation and functioning of the forces and means of the collective security system of the CST member states” were of fundamental importance in this regard.

The logical stage in the formation and development of the military component of the CST was the creation, by decision of the CSC in 2001, of the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces of the Central Asian Collective Security Region, which were equipped with four battalions from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (one from each state) with a total strength of one and a half thousand people with a military command.

At the same time, the creation and improvement of the activities of the advisory bodies of the Collective Security Treaty - the Councils of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense, the Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils - proceeded. A workable Secretariat of the CSC was created, a consultation process was established both at the level of the CSC, Ministerial Council of Foreign Ministers and CFR, and with the participation of deputy ministers of foreign affairs and defense, experts of the participating states, their authorized representatives under the Secretary General of the SKB.

Finally, in the fall of 2002, a milestone event took place in the life of the Collective Security Treaty - a new international organization was created on the basis of the Treaty. On October 7, 2002, the presidents of the CST member states of May 15, 1992 signed two important documents - the Charter of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Agreement on the Legal Status of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Almost a year later, on September 18, 2003, these documents came into force. According to them, the CSTO members are the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan. On December 2, 2004, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution granting the Collective Security Treaty Organization observer status in General Assembly UN.

The official goal of the CSTO was to prevent by joint efforts, and if necessary, eliminate, military threat sovereignty and territorial integrity of the participating States. To counter new challenges and threats to national, regional and international security, Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan agreed to intensify their activities in this area, taking concrete actions aimed at resolutely fighting against international terrorism. Thus, in the fall of 2003, cooperation within the framework of the Treaty was transformed into a full-fledged international intergovernmental regional organization, which is called upon to play a leading role in ensuring security in the Eurasian space as a whole, and the CIS space in particular.

In fact, the decision to transform the Collective Security Treaty into an international organization was a response to the challenges of the changing geopolitical situation. There was an urgent need to adapt the Treaty to the dynamics of regional and international security, to counter new challenges and threats. The main task of the Organization being created was the coordination and deepening of military-political cooperation, the formation of multilateral structures and cooperation mechanisms designed to ensure the national security of the participating states on a collective basis, to provide the necessary assistance, including military assistance, to a participating state that has become a victim of aggression.

It was fundamentally important to include in the CSTO Charter a provision that one of the main goals of the Organization and its activities is to coordinate and unite efforts in the fight against international terrorism and other non-traditional security threats. At the same time, the obligation of the member states to harmonize and coordinate their foreign policy positions on international and regional security problems was recorded.

The creation of the Collective Security Treaty Organization has also become an important political event in the life of the member states of the Treaty. There is no doubt that membership in a new regional organization really contributes to strengthening their political weight and positions in the international community and ensuring stability and security at the international and regional levels.

According to the wording, the fundamental documents of the CSTO are quite strong. In accordance with the Treaty, the participating States ensure their security on a collective basis. Article 2 of the Treaty states: “In the event of a threat to the security, territorial integrity and sovereignty of one or more participating States, or a threat international peace and security, the participating States will immediately activate the mechanism of joint consultations in order to coordinate their positions and take measures to eliminate the threat that has arisen.”

At the same time, Article 4 provides: “In the event of

committing an act of aggression against any of the participating States, all other participating States will provide it with the necessary assistance, including military, and will also support the means at their disposal in order to exercise the right to collective defense in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter. At the same time, the Charter of the Collective Security Treaty Organization provides for the obligatory implementation of adopted decisions and sanctions for their non-compliance.

Thus, the main document of the Collective Security Treaty Organization expresses a purely defensive orientation military policy participating States, with priority given to political means of preventing and eliminating military conflicts. In its content, the Treaty is primarily a factor of military-political deterrence.

The States Parties to the Treaty emphasize that no one is regarded as an adversary and that they are in favor of mutually beneficial cooperation with all states. The treaty remains open for accession to it by other states that share its goals and principles. Individual states or international organizations are granted observer status with the CSTO by the Charter.

The very essence of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the principles and forms of cooperation laid down in its Charter, as well as the declared positions of the member states, predetermined real opportunity for him to become integral part common and comprehensive security systems for Europe and Asia. “In the event of the creation in Europe and Asia of a system of collective security,” written in Article 1 of the Treaty, “and the conclusion of collective security treaties for this purpose, to which the contracting parties will steadily strive, the participating States will enter into immediate consultations with each other with a view to making the necessary changes to this Agreement. This fundamental point is constantly confirmed in subsequent documents of the Collective Security Treaty.

The transformation of an interstate treaty into a full-fledged international organization could not but affect the internal structure of the latter. As early as April 28, 2003, at the session of the CSC in Dushanbe, provisions were developed to regulate the activities of the organization and the structure of the CSTO was clearly formulated. The competence of the main bodies of the Collective Security Treaty has significantly expanded - the Ministerial Council of Foreign Affairs, the CMO and the KSSB have now become not only advisory, but also executive bodies.

On the this moment the structure of the CSTO is as follows. supreme body The organization is the Collective Security Council (CSC). The Council considers the fundamental issues of the Organization's activities and makes decisions aimed at the implementation of its goals and objectives, as well as ensures coordination and joint activities of the Member States to achieve these goals. The Council consists of the heads of member states.

In the period between sessions of the CSC, the Permanent Council, which consists of authorized representatives appointed by the Member States, is responsible for coordinating the interaction of the Member States in the implementation of decisions taken by the bodies of the Organization. The Council of Foreign Ministers (CMFA) is the advisory and executive body of the Collective Security Treaty Organization on the issues of coordinating the interaction of member states in the field of foreign policy.

In turn, the Council of Defense Ministers (CMO) is the CSTO advisory and executive body for coordinating the interaction of member states in the field of military policy, military development and military technical cooperation. A place for the CSTO advisory and executive body on issues of coordination of interaction between member states in the field of ensuring their national security allocated to the Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils (CSSC).

Supreme Administrative official organization is the Secretary General, who manages the CSTO Secretariat. The Secretary General of the organization is appointed by the CSC decision from among the citizens of the member states and is accountable to the Council.

Finally, in order to intensify work to strengthen the military component of the CSTO, the Joint Headquarters of the CSTO was formed.

During its short but eventful history, the Collective Security Treaty Organization has repeatedly given rise to talk about itself. At the initial stage, the Treaty contributed to the creation of the national armed forces of the participating States, to the provision of adequate external conditions for their independent state building.

The possibilities of the Treaty were directly activated in the fall of 1996 and in the summer of 1998 in connection with the dangerous development of events in Afghanistan in close proximity to the borders of the Central Asian member states of the Collective Security Treaty, in order to prevent attempts by extremists to destabilize the situation in this region.

In 1999 and 2000, as a result of promptly implemented measures by the member states of the Collective Security Treaty, with the participation of Uzbekistan, the threat posed by large-scale actions of armed groups of international terrorists in southern Kyrgyzstan and other regions of Central Asia was neutralized.

The CST also played an important military-political role in the process of achieving national reconciliation in Tajikistan. Moreover, in the middle of the first decade of the 21st century, within the framework of the CSTO, this country is receiving significant political, military and military-technical assistance.

In general, it can be confidently stated that the Collective Security Treaty Organization is a significant international regional organization in the expanses of Eurasia. Moreover, the CSTO is a Eurasian organization not only in the spatial and geographical sense, but also in the political and legal sense due to the universality of its principles and practical goals, as well as through the direct participation of its member states in the relevant European and Asian security structures, in

first of all, the OSCE and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

In conclusion, it should be noted that after the collapse of the USSR, the balance of power in the world was upset, and a new security architecture has not yet been created. Moreover, the situation in the post-Soviet space, which was tightly controlled by Moscow twenty years ago, cannot now be called stable either. In this regard, Russia simply needs a powerful integration grouping, consisting of allied countries, capable of adequately responding to the challenges of our time. In this regard, the CSTO really contributes to solving the problems of national security. Russian Federation on its front lines, the creation, in fact, under the auspices of Russia, of a vast political and defense space and a common military-technical potential.

20 years ago by the heads of Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and UzbekistanThe Collective Security Treaty was signed.

The Collective Security Treaty was signed on May 15, 1992 in Tashkent (Uzbekistan). In September 1993, Azerbaijan joined it, in December of the same year - Georgia and Belarus. The Treaty entered into force for all nine countries in April 1994 for a period of five years.

In accordance with the Treaty, the participating States ensure their security on a collective basis: "in the event of a threat to the security, territorial integrity and sovereignty of one or more participating States, or a threat to international peace and security, the participating States will immediately activate the mechanism of joint consultations in order to coordinate their positions and take measures to eliminate the threat that has arisen.

At the same time, it is stipulated that “if one of the participating states is subjected to aggression by any state or group of states, then this will be considered as aggression against all participating states” and “all other participating states will provide it with the necessary assistance, including military, and will provide support with the means at their disposal in order to exercise the right to collective defense in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter."

In April 1999, the Protocol on the Extension of the Collective Security Treaty was signed by six countries (except Azerbaijan, Georgia and Uzbekistan). On May 14, 2002, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) was established, currently uniting Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

On October 7, 2002, the CSTO Charter was adopted in Chisinau, according to which the main goals of the Organization are to strengthen peace, international and regional security and stability, to protect on a collective basis the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the member states, in achieving which the member states give priority political means.

The Secretary General of the Organization is the highest administrative officer of the Organization and manages the Secretariat of the Organization. Appointed by the decision of the CSC from among the citizens of the Member States and is accountable to the CSC.

The advisory and executive bodies of the CSTO are: the Council of Foreign Ministers (CMFA), which coordinates the foreign policy activities of the CSTO member states; the Council of Defense Ministers (CMO), which ensures the interaction of member states in the field of military policy, military development and military-technical cooperation; The Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils (CSSC), which oversees national security issues.

In the period between sessions of the CSC, coordination in the implementation of the decisions of the CSTO bodies is entrusted to Permanent Council attached to the Organization, which consists of authorized representatives of the Member States. The CSTO Secretary General also participates in its meetings.

The permanent working bodies of the CSTO are the Secretariat and the Joint Staff of the Organization.

The CSTO carries out its activities in cooperation with various international organizations. Since December 2, 2004 the Organization has an observer status in the UN General Assembly. On March 18, 2010, a Joint Declaration on Cooperation between the UN Secretariats and the CSTO was signed in Moscow, which provides for the establishment of interaction between the two organizations, in particular, in the field of peacekeeping. Productive contacts are maintained with international organizations and structures, including the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the UN Security Council, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe), the European Union, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, international organization on migration and others. The CSTO has established close cooperation with the EurAsEC (Eurasian Economic Community), the SCO ( Shanghai Organization cooperation) and the CIS.

In order to counter the entire range of challenges and threats to the security of the member states, decisions were made by the CSTO CSC on the creation of peacekeeping forces, coordinating councils for emergencies, the fight against illegal migration and drug trafficking. Under the CSTO Ministerial Council, there is a Working Group on Afghanistan. Under the CSTO CSTO there are working groups on combating terrorism and countering illegal migration, information policy and security.

As part of military cooperation in the CSTO format, the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces of the Central Asian Collective Security Region (CRRF CAR) have been formed. The exercises of the CRRF CAR are held on a regular basis, including with the development of anti-terrorist tasks.

In February 2009, a decision was made to create the Collective Rapid Reaction Force (CRRF) of the CSTO. Uzbekistan refrained from signing the package of documents, reserving the possibility of joining the Agreement later. Joint complex exercises are regularly held with the participation of contingents and operational groups of the CSTO member states.

Under the auspices of the CSTO, the international complex anti-drug operation "Channel" and the operation to combat illegal migration "Illegal" are annually carried out. In 2009, for the first time, joint measures were taken to counteract crimes in the information sphere under the code name Operation PROXY (Counteraction to Crime in the Information Sphere).

The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources

20 years ago by the heads of Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and UzbekistanThe Collective Security Treaty was signed.

In the period between sessions of the CSC, coordination in the implementation of the decisions of the CSTO bodies is entrusted to the Permanent Council under the Organization, which consists of authorized representatives of the member states. The CSTO Secretary General also participates in its meetings.

The permanent working bodies of the CSTO are the Secretariat and the Joint Staff of the Organization.

The CSTO carries out its activities in cooperation with various international organizations. Since December 2, 2004 the Organization has an observer status in the UN General Assembly. On March 18, 2010, a Joint Declaration on Cooperation between the UN Secretariats and the CSTO was signed in Moscow, which provides for the establishment of interaction between the two organizations, in particular, in the field of peacekeeping. Productive contacts are maintained with international organizations and structures, including the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the UN Security Council, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe), the European Union, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the International Organization for Migration and others. The CSTO has established close cooperation with the EurAsEC (Eurasian Economic Community), the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) and the CIS.

In order to counter the entire range of challenges and threats to the security of the member states, decisions were made by the CSTO CSC on the creation of Peacekeeping Forces, coordination councils for emergency situations, the fight against illegal migration and illegal drug trafficking. Under the CSTO Ministerial Council, there is a Working Group on Afghanistan. Under the CSTO CSTO there are working groups on combating terrorism and countering illegal migration, information policy and security.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources

CSTO

Headquarters Russia Moscow Members 7 permanent members Official language Russian Nikolai Nikolaevich Bordyuzha Education DCS
the contract is signed
agreement entered into force
CSTO
the contract is signed
agreement entered into force
May 15
20 April

Development prospects

To strengthen the positions of the CSTO, the collective rapid deployment forces of the Central Asian region are being reformed. This force consists of ten battalions: three from Russia and Kazakhstan and one from Kyrgyzstan. The total number of personnel of the collective forces is about 7 thousand people. The aviation component (10 planes and 14 helicopters) is located at the Russian military airbase in Kyrgyzstan.

In connection with Uzbekistan's entry into the CSTO, it is noted that back in 2005, the Uzbek authorities came up with a project to create international "anti-revolutionary" punitive forces in the post-Soviet space within the framework of the CSTO. In preparation for joining this organization, Uzbekistan prepared a package of proposals for its improvement, including the creation of intelligence and counterintelligence structures within its framework, as well as the development of mechanisms that would allow the CSTO to give guarantees of internal security to the Central Asian states.

Targets and goals

CSTO members

Structure of the CSTO

The supreme body of the Organization is Collective Security Council (SKB). The Council consists of the heads of member states. The Council considers the fundamental issues of the Organization's activities and makes decisions aimed at the implementation of its goals and objectives, as well as ensures coordination and joint activities of the Member States to achieve these goals.

Council of Foreign Ministers (Council of Ministers) - advisory and executive agency Organizations for the coordination of interaction between member states in the field of foreign policy.

Council of Ministers of Defense (CMO) is a consultative and executive body of the Organization for the coordination of interaction between member states in the field of military policy, military development and military-technical cooperation.

Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils (KSSB) is a consultative and executive body of the Organization for the coordination of interaction between member states in the field of ensuring their national security.

Secretary General of the Organization is the highest administrative officer of the Organization and manages the Secretariat of the Organization. Appointed by the decision of the CSC from among the citizens of the Member States and is accountable to the Council. Currently, he is Nikolai Bordyuzha.

Secretariat of the Organization- a permanent working body of the Organization for the implementation of organizational, informational, analytical and advisory support for the activities of the bodies of the Organization.

Joint Headquarters of the CSTO- a permanent working body of the Organization and the CMO of the CSTO, responsible for preparing proposals and implementing decisions on the military component of the CSTO. From December 1, 2006, it is planned to assign to the joint headquarters the tasks performed by the command and the permanent task force of the headquarters of the collective forces.

CSTO summit in September 2008

Literature

Nikolaenko V. D. Organization of the Collective Security Treaty (origins, formation, prospects) 2004 ISBN 5-94935-031-6

Notes

Strength in international relations
Types of power	Philosophical power Soft power Hard power Political power (Machtpolitik Realpolitik)
Types of power status	Near Power Regional Power Great Power Superpower (Potential Superpower Energy Superpower) Hyperpower

The Collective Security Treaty Organization is important element international relations in the post-Soviet space. It includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. Colonel-General Anatoly Sidorov, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, spoke about countering collective threats and prospects for cooperation with the AS.

- Anatoly Alekseevich, what is the situation in the CSTO area of responsibility?

The military-political situation is, of course, rather complicated. Since the collapse of the multipolar system of the world order, the level of security, both regional and global, unfortunately, remains quite low. The ongoing struggle for the redistribution of spheres of influence, the use of double standards by Western states in resolving interstate contradictions create real prerequisites for the emergence of military conflicts of various scales.

The fight against terrorism and information warfare are becoming increasingly important as a result of the emergence of qualitatively new threats related to the activities of extremist organizations and the development of information technologies.

An analysis of threats and trends in the development of the situation formed the basis of the CSTO Collective Security Strategy developed in 2016 for the period up to 2025. The document defines the strategic goals and objectives of the organization in the political field, in the areas military security, countering transnational challenges and threats, crisis response, peacekeeping, as well as foreign policy interaction between our states. Mechanisms for ensuring collective security are defined.

In 2016, the heads of the member states of the organization decided to establish the CSTO Crisis Response Center. It is entrusted with the functions of information-analytical and organizational support for the adoption by the CSTO bodies of decisions on joint actions to prevent or resolve crisis situations, protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the CSTO states.

The organizational structure of the Joint Staff has been substantially changed. Subdivisions have been created to ensure the activities of the center, new algorithms have been developed for the joint work of permanent bodies with state and military administration structures of the CSTO member states. In general, I think this made it possible to clearly define the long-term development guidelines for the organization, as well as to create mechanisms for the early detection of emerging threats and an adequate response to them.

The CSTO's area of responsibility includes the Eastern European, Caucasian and Central Asian regions of collective security. Which one needs more attention?

In each of these regions, the situation is characterized by unfavorable trends. But, in our opinion, the Central Asian region requires the most careful attention. It is there that the threat of international terrorism and the spread of religious extremism to the post-Soviet space is most clearly manifested.

The source of this threat, of course, is Afghanistan, where about 70,000 militants operate, united in more than 4,000 detachments and battle groups. The basis of anti-government groups is formed by the formation of the "Islamic movement of the Taliban" with a total number of more than 60 thousand militants. In a number of provinces in the south and east of the country, they control up to 70% of the territory. The goal of the Taliban is to overthrow the current regime and restore the theocratic state of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Significant efforts of extremists are aimed at taking complete control of the northern provinces. The successful solution of this task will allow them to ensure the unhindered passage of drug trafficking along the northern route through the territory of the Central Asian republics and Russia, as well as create a springboard for an offensive in the central regions of Afghanistan. To this end, the Taliban leaders, on the one hand, are trying to increase the number of armed formations, and on the other hand, in the interests of solving private problems, they are striving to establish effective interaction with regional extremist groups banned in Russia, such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Hizb ut-Tahrir , "Lashkar-i-Tayiba", etc.

In addition, the activities of ISIS militants (banned in the Russian Federation) have significantly intensified in Afghanistan. Their number, according to various estimates, is more than 4 thousand people. Good conspiracy, including through the creation of so-called sleeper cells, and a well-established network of agents allow extremists to use ever more sophisticated methods of terror.

Ultimately, the activity of these organizations is capable of significantly destabilizing the situation in Central Asia and requires our constant attention and the adoption of adequate response measures within the framework of the collective security system.

Is there a danger of an invasion of large terrorist groups through Afghanistan into the territory of the Central Asian states?

Of course, such a danger exists. The leadership of ISIS is making attempts to expand its influence primarily in the northern provinces of the country, making no secret of subsequent plans to penetrate into the Central Asian republics, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China and some regions of Russia.

The main goals of the extremists are recruiting militants to participate in conflicts in the Middle East and obtaining additional sources of funding by taking control of drug trafficking and other criminal activities, including kidnapping, extortion, and arms trafficking. To achieve these goals, ISIS leaders are consistently increasing the number of groups in Afghanistan, creating a network of training camps and terrorist hiding places. Militants enter the country from the zones of the Iraqi and Syrian conflicts, as well as from the territory of Pakistan under the guise of returning Afghan refugees.

We understand the existing danger and have provided for a set of measures that ensures the availability of a sufficient number of forces and means to ensure the security of the states of the Central Asian region, and primarily Tajikistan, which has a common border with Afghanistan.

- What are these forces and how combat-ready are they?

In the Central Asian region, the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces have been created, which are capable of promptly countering manifestations of international terrorism and other threats to security. They include units from the armed forces of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. The total number of the group is about 5 thousand people. These are well-trained and technically equipped, mainly air assault and mountain rifle units.

The CSTO also created the Collective Rapid Reaction Force (CRRF), which has become a universal tool that allows you to solve wide range tasks and adequately respond to all existing challenges and threats. For their recruitment, all six CSTO states have allocated the most combat-ready and mobile formations, units and formations of special forces. The total number of CRRF is about 18 thousand people.

Starting from 2015, by decision of the heads of our states, the overall leadership of the CSTO Collective Forces in the regions of collective security is carried out by the respective Joint Strategic Commands of the military districts of the Russian Armed Forces. This means that in order to counter possible threats from Afghanistan, if necessary, the potential of our Central Military District, the forces and means of all types of reconnaissance, including space, aviation, including strategic, will be used. Rocket troops and artillery, as well as other troops.

On the effectiveness and combat effectiveness of multinational military formations testify to the results of sudden checks of their readiness. One of them, with the participation of military contingents of the CSTO CRRF, was carried out with the transfer of part of the forces to the territory of Tajikistan. At the same time, units with standard weapons, equipment, ammunition and supplies were regrouped by military transport aircraft and under their own power. At the Kharbmaidon training ground, which is 15 kilometers from the Tajik-Afghan border, training was held on the formation and coordination of command, planning a joint operation, and a number of combat training tasks with live firing were completed.

The general and most important conclusion based on the results of the inspection is that the military contingents of the CRRF are ready to perform tasks. This result, undoubtedly, was a deterrent and required the introduction of appropriate adjustments in the intentions of international terrorist organizations in relation to Tajikistan.

An unscheduled large-scale exercise of the CSTO CRRF held in November 2017, also on the territory of Tajikistan, had a similar deterrent character. The need for it was primarily due to the threat from the ISIS group, which is being squeezed out of Syria and Iraq into the territory of Afghanistan. More than 5,000 servicemen, 1,500 pieces of weapons and equipment, 77 aircraft, including unmanned aerial vehicles, were involved in the exercise at six training grounds. Units from the CSTO CRRF, as well as the Joint Russian-Tajik Group of Forces, participated. For the first time, issues of covering Tu-95MS long-range aviation aircraft of Russia by Su-30 fighters of the air defense forces of Kazakhstan were worked out. The bombers carried out rocket and bomb strikes on mock militant bases. Missile launches of the operational-tactical complex "Iskander" were also carried out.

Thus, the CSTO has enough forces and means to ensure the security of our CSTO member states in the Central Asian region.

- How is the situation on the border of the CSTO countries with Ukraine assessed?

The Ukrainian authorities are consistently stepping up efforts to bring the armed forces to NATO standards. To this end, financial resources from Western states, foreign advisers and instructors are actively involved. Ultimately, conditions are created for the use of Ukraine and its armed forces as one of the main so-called NATO partners in countering Russia and its allies. At the same time, we do not dramatize the situation, but monitor its development in the interests of an adequate response to possible threats.

- What is the general composition of the CSTO forces and means? Is there any plan to increase their numbers?

The total number of Collective CSTO forces, created on a multilateral basis, is over 26 thousand military personnel. In addition to the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces and the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces that I have named, in 2010, the formation of the CSTO Peacekeeping Forces was completed, into which the states allocated military, police (police) and civilian personnel on a permanent basis with a total of about 3,600 people. The basis of these forces is the military component. On December 23, 2014, a decision was made to create the Collective Aviation Forces. They included planes and helicopters of military transport, transport and special aviation.

In addition to the CSTO Collective Forces created on a multilateral basis, in the Eastern European region within the framework of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, as well as in the Caucasus region, on the basis of bilateral agreements between Armenia and Russia, corresponding regional groupings of troops have been created.

On a bilateral basis, the Unified Regional Air Defense System of Belarus and Russia has been created and is being developed, agreements on the creation of similar Russian-Kazakh and Russian-Armenian air defense systems have been signed and ratified. On a multilateral basis, work is underway to create a joint air defense system in the Central Asian region.

In general, sufficient capacity has been created to respond to emerging threats. Today we are working primarily on improving the quality of training and technical equipment of the existing forces and assets, and improving their structure.

- What is the decision-making mechanism for the use of the CSTO armed forces?

The main form of preparation of proposals for making a decision on the use of forces and means is the mechanism of joint consultations of representatives of states. They can be carried out at various levels. The beginning of work is the official request for assistance from one or more states. The Collective Security Council decides on the use of forces and means and the provision of the necessary assistance based on the proposals of the Council of Defense Ministers and the Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils of the CSTO, which are being prepared jointly with the Joint Staff and the Secretariat of the organization.

The crisis response mechanism is constantly being worked out at joint business games, staff exercises, during which the issues of reducing the time for preparing proposals and making decisions on the use of forces and means are studied.

- What CSTO exercises are planned for 2018?

In 2018, we will continue the practice of holding joint training events against the background of a conventional military-political and strategic situation as part of the Combat Brotherhood-2018 joint operational-strategic exercise. The whole range of measures to prevent (deter), resolve a military conflict and restore peace will be worked out. Joint exercises will be held on the territory of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.