ArmInfo. The main negative impact on the military-political situation in the regions of collective security of the CSTO countries is the destructive activity of the United States and its allies, said Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov.
"I largely agree with the assessments of the military-political situation in the regions of collective security that were voiced today. It remains complicated and requires our close attention. The main negative impact on the development of the situation is the destructive activity of the United States and its allies," Belousov said, speaking at a meeting of the CSTO Defense Ministers Council in Almaty.
According to him, Washington and its allies are consistently destroying the world security architecture in order to maintain global dominance. "They deliberately provoke armed conflicts, support terrorist and extremist groups, apply all sorts of sanctions, use threats and blackmail," the Russian Defense Minister said.
According to him, the military infrastructure of the North Atlantic Alliance is being improved, and combat training and reconnaissance activities near the borders of the CSTO countries are being intensified. "A series of large-scale Steadfast Defender - 2024 exercises were conducted from February to May," Belousov noted.
"Individual countries of the Alliance are seeking to strengthen their positions in the Caucasus, thereby gaining access to the resources of the Caspian Sea and direct access to Central Asia. The situation is being destabilized and protests in Georgia are being financed, from which they are trying to achieve active anti- Russian actions," the head of the Russian Defense Ministry continued. According to him, "mediation services are being unceremoniously imposed on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve contradictions," "they are offering to sign a peace treaty exclusively on Western platforms and under dictation." "We are particularly concerned about Washington and Brussels' plans to involve our Armenian partners in their zone of interests under the pretext of strengthening security and defense," Beloussov said.
At the same time, he believes that the West is deliberately trying to undermine the allied relations between the CSTO countries and discredit its activities. "An analysis of the military-political situation shows that it remains tense and is characterized by an increase in military threats along the perimeter of the Organization," Beloussov added. In these conditions, he noted, "clear coordination and continuous improvement of the forces and means included in the collective security system, as well as well-coordinated decision-making mechanisms, are required."
"Military cooperation within the CSTO plays a priority role in creating an effective security system. We are determined to develop it in all key areas," the Russian Defense Minister noted.
According to him, "this is especially important because Western countries are deliberately seeking to undermine the allied relations between the CSTO states and discredit the Organization's activities." "Today, a real information war has been unleashed against us, economic sanctions are being applied and direct pressure is being exerted," Belousov said, proposing in this regard to focus on solving a number of key tasks. Among them, he named, in particular, work to improve the CSTO crisis response system. "In practice, work out the algorithms laid out in the new documents on the adoption and implementation of decisions on the use of collective security forces and means. Make the necessary changes to the regulatory framework of the Organization to ensure the prompt deployment of CSTO troops (collective forces), the transportation of military formations and military products," the minister said, Russian media sources report.
"It is also necessary to "not allow a decrease in the intensity of operational and combat training in the CSTO format.
Here it is necessary to pay increased attention to the combat readiness of collective forces, their equipment, and the improvement of combat training," Belousov said, emphasizing that "Russia has accumulated significant advanced experience in conducting combat operations in modern conditions" and "it is ready to share it and implement it in the practice of training troops during joint operations." In addition, according to him, it is necessary to take measures to strengthen intra-bloc unity and foreign policy coordination.
"It is important to use influential international platforms to promote common approaches to security issues, and to regularly consult in both multilateral and bilateral formats. "To pay due attention to information support for the CSTO's activities in order to maintain its positive image," Belousov noted. He stated the need to "develop close cooperation with other regional organizations, primarily with the CIS and SCO, as well as with friendly countries." "I am confident that these steps will increase the CSTO's effectiveness in the security sphere and ensure sustainable growth of its authority," the Russian Defense Minister stated.