Belousov: Washington, Brussels trying to involve Armenia in their interests` zone under pretext of strengthening security and defense

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.