- Since January 1, you have begun your duties as the Secretary General of the CSTO. What are your feelings in your new position?- I am set for productive work.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to the heads of the CSTO member states for the trust they have placed in me. For the past two years, I have worked in the secretariat of this organization and dealt with issues of military-political security. This time has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the problems and assess the reserves for increasing the effectiveness of our work.
Our main task is to maintain peace and stability in the CSTO's area of responsibility, creating conditions for the safe development and prosperity of the member states of the organization. We have all the necessary tools to fulfill this mission.
I intend to make the most of the experience gained and the proven practices of cooperation between member states to address key security challenges. This includes political consultations, the work of specialized groups, and conducting joint exercises and operations.
In accordance with the instructions of the Collective Security Council (CSC), we will continue to strengthen the role of the CSTO as an important military-political structure in the Greater Eurasia space for maintaining peace and stability.
- What tasks are ahead for the secretariat in the near future?- As is known, in 2026, the presidency of the CSTO will pass to the Russian Federation. The theme of the presidency is related to "Collective Security in a Multipolar World. Common Goal – Common Responsibility," which reflects the key principles of our alliance – responsibility and readiness to interact with other states and organizations to ensure regional and global security.
In the near future, a plan of activities for the implementation of the decisions made at the November session of the Collective Security Council will be presented to the CSC chairman, President of Russia Vladimir Putin.
We are expecting significant work to deepen foreign policy coordination among the members of our organization and promote common interests on the international stage.
We plan to continue:
- improving the work of the CSTO statutory bodies;
- strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation in the field of collective security;
- developing the forces and means of the collective security system, taking into account changes in the military-political situation in the world;
- increasing coordination of efforts to combat international terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, and arms smuggling, as well as other pressing issues such as illegal migration and biological security.
Preparations have also begun for the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Collective Security Treaty, which will take place in 2027.
- In light of the alarming events in various regions of Eurasia, how does the CSTO assess the increase in geopolitical tension? - Today, Eurasia appears as the geopolitical center of a multipolar world. The processes occurring here directly affect the global political and military situation, including in the area of responsibility of our organization.
The reasons for the current imbalances in international relations are well known. Some Western politicians are striving for the militarization of the economy and are talking about the possibility of strengthening security at the expense of new weapons, including nuclear weapons.
The increase in defense spending and the activation of military space activities create a real threat. New autonomous systems and the use of the internet for interference in political stability are becoming the norm. Artificial intelligence and self-learning systems are increasingly being used for military purposes.
In addition to military aspects, the growing threats in the biological and informational spheres also require coordinated actions from the member states of our organization.
Unfortunately, the international community does not demonstrate unity in addressing these critically important issues. The lack of successful attempts to form mechanisms to deter new dangerous technologies only exacerbates the situation. The threat of international terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, and the transboundary movement of militants also persists.
Against the backdrop of these threats, the number of regional conflicts is increasing. We are particularly concerned about the approach of "zones of instability" to the borders of CSTO member states. In these challenging conditions, we continue to strengthen the role of the CSTO as an important military-political structure that contributes to stability in the changing post-Soviet space and Eurasia as a whole.
- The CSTO has experience and capabilities to influence regional security. Can you tell us more about this? - Our organization has significant experience. Over more than thirty years of the CSTO's history, we have been able to prevent or mitigate a number of crises in our area of responsibility. We continue to focus on preventive approaches and political-diplomatic methods, improving the CSTO's crisis response system.
Within the framework of the collective security strategy extended until 2025, we intend to enhance the combat potential of the CSTO Collective Forces, including equipping them with modern reconnaissance and troop control systems. We will also develop training programs for the armed forces of CSTO member states, taking into account advancements in military science and technology.
The main task for the CSTO will be the implementation of an intergovernmental program to strengthen the Tajik-Afghan border, approved in Astana in November 2024.
Currently, the CSTO is assisting in the implementation of the first phase of the program, coordinating the lists of armaments for the border troops of Tajikistan and identifying suppliers.
We will also continue conducting joint military exercises, such as "Interaction" and "Search," which annually update aspects of troop training. In October, a command-staff exercise with CSTO peacekeeping forces, "Unbreakable Brotherhood – 2026," will take place on the territory of Belarus. We will also actively work in the area of preventing biological threats, conducting special exercises "Barrier-2026."
In combating challenges and threats, we will continue to strengthen our actions against terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, and crimes in the field of information technology, conducting special operations under the code names "Mercenary," "Channel," "Illegal," and "PROXY."
We will also actively work on the information and analytical support of the CSTO's activities, developing cooperation with scientific experts and increasing our organization's presence on social media.
- Recently, discussions have been held in CSTO member states and beyond about creating a new architecture for Eurasian security. How do you see the role of the CSTO and regional organizations in this process? - Over the past decades, the CSTO has established itself as an effective structure for ensuring regional stability and an important part of the global security system. One of the key areas of the CSTO's work in the context of forming a new security architecture in Eurasia is cooperation with other international organizations.
We are witnessing an increase in the capabilities of regional structures, which can play a leading role in addressing local problems, relying on the experience and tools of the UN system. This can enhance the influence of countries that best understand local realities and are interested in finding effective solutions.
In this context, the United Nations remains our main partner. We continue to develop cooperation with the UN on important areas, including conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and combating terrorism.
We expect that in 2026, the 81st session of the UN General Assembly will adopt a new resolution on "Cooperation between the UN and the CSTO."
The CSTO Secretariat will continue to strengthen partnerships with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). In 2025, an agreement on a roadmap for 2026-2028 was signed, which will serve as the basis for more active joint actions in the field of security. This year, a joint conference on security issues in Central Asia and Afghanistan is also planned.
The roadmap provides for the joint implementation of media projects to enhance the authority of our organizations.
As for interaction with the OSCE, under the current tension, contacts have been suspended. Nevertheless, we are closely monitoring events and are ready to resume cooperation, as the absence of interaction always leads to negative consequences, especially when there are many common problems in Europe.
It is clear that the growing number of challenges and threats requires the search for new partners and allies.
The Collective Security Treaty Organization is open to cooperation with those states and organizations that share our principles and goals.
