The CSTO’s Secretary General, Imangali Tasmagambetov, described a persistent pattern: Western nations are steadily assembling military units and expanding infrastructure near the shared borders of Russia and Belarus. He spoke during a session involving the organization’s secretariat and the leaders at the collaborative headquarters, emphasizing that the trend is ongoing and methodical in nature. The comment reflects a heightened awareness within the CSTO about how neighboring states and their allies are shaping a security environment that could influence regional stability and strategic calculations for years to come [CSTO briefing, attribution: official statements, corroborating sources].
He pointed to evidence circulating through government channels that signals an unprecedented buildup of NATO’s military potential in several geographies adjacent to CSTO members. The Baltic states, Poland, and regions around the Black Sea were highlighted as focal points for expanded forces, training, equipment deployment, and the development of supporting networks. The Secretary General framed these developments as a clear signal of intensified cross-border military activity that may affect alliance dynamics and safety considerations for governments in the wider Eurasian space [BelTA, summarized government notes].
Beyond the force posture concerns, Tasmagambetov noted that ongoing sanctions pressures on CSTO economies have constrained diplomatic and crisis-management mechanisms in contemporary hotspots, including Ukraine, the South Caucasus, and the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. He argued that sanctions have often slowed resolution efforts and complicated multilateral diplomacy aimed at de-escalation and dialogue. While the CSTO continues to monitor these tensions, the broader message centers on the interplay between external pressure and regional stability, and how security architectures adapt under tightening economic constraints [CSTO Secretariat communications, attribution: official summaries].