In his exclusive interview with Sputnik Belarus, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary-General Imangali Tasmagambetov on November 15 spoke about the CSTO strategy in the conditions of new conflicts and the threat of the third world war. 

Next week, on November 23, Minsk will host a summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.  

Asked about the CSTO’s position on admitting new countries to its membership, Tasmagambetov said that first and foremost, the CSTO is an association of countries aimed at strengthening peace and stability in their area of responsibility and taking concrete measures to that end. We are expanding political dialogue within the CSTO and with other states and associations, increasing military and military-technical cooperation, and jointly countering such challenges and threats as terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, illegal migration and others.

“It is important to bear in mind that collective work in the above-mentioned areas implies a very high level of mutual understanding, solidarity and trust between countries.  For this reason, we assume that the decision of a country to join the CSTO must be a well-considered one.  In addition, the CSTO would see the expediency of accepting new members only if they are prepared to adhere to the basic documents developed within the Organization and to take full account of the collective interests of the member states,” he noted.

Asked about military exercises scheduled for the next year, the CSTO secretary-general said “Interaction-2024”, a command and staff training with the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces (CRRF), “Search-2024” special trainings with intelligence forces and means, and “Echelon-2024” trainings with logistical forces and means for the CSTO Troops (Collective Forces) will take place in Kyrgyzstan.  Command and staff training with the CSTO Peacekeeping Forces "Indestructible Brotherhood-2024" and a special training with rescue units of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, part of the CSTO Special Forces Formation "Rock-2024", will be conducted in Kazakhstan, and a joint training with units of the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces of the Central Asian region, “Rubezh-2024”, will be conducted in Tajikistan.  Russia will host special training of the CSTO CRRF Special Forces “Cobalt-2024”,  

Asked about his opinion on how the threat of a third world war is real, he said that since 1945, the system of international relations, and above all the UN system, has been organized in such a way as to prevent a new world war.

“If this threat had not been perceived as real, there would have been no need for such a construction of international relations, ties and the system of international law,” said Tasmagambetov.  “…And then, already in the post-war period, the mankind really approached the dangerous boundary most closely, as many experts believe, at the moment of the Caribbean crisis in 1962.  Even if we take into account this and only this historical experience, it would be irresponsible to deny the reality of the threat of a third world war. Especially given the effects of globalization and the power of modern weaponry.”

Asked about illegal drug trafficking, Tasmagambetov noted that the specific tasks of the CSTO countries in combating drug trafficking are traditionally associated to the situation in the CSTO area of responsibility.

“The territory of Afghanistan is indeed still a source of very serious problems. Problems from which both the Afghan people and people in many other countries of the world suffer.  The long-term actions of the Western allies in Afghanistan have complicated the situation and have not brought us any closer to a positive solution. Today, the CSTO member states are striving to do everything possible to help normalize the situation in that country,” said the CSTO secretary-general.  “Our actions include, among other things, diplomatic and socio-economic measures, but our position on combating drug trafficking, the terrorist threat and the threat of terrorist extremism has been and will continue to be the toughest.”

He emphasized that leaving Afghan society to chance will not lead to anything good for the country, the region or the world.