The head of the Joint Staff of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Anatoly Sidorov, outlined a clear potential for the CSTO to expand its reach by coordinating joint activities with African and Latin American nations. In discussions with BelTA, Sidorov emphasized that the close and cordial ties that CSTO member states enjoy with several African countries create a natural basis for collaborative events. He noted that cooperation could take shape through partnerships or observer roles, should African and Latin American states indicate interest in joining forces or simply observing the alliance in action.
In the same discourse, Sidorov pointed out that delegations from Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, and Mongolia are slated to participate in CSTO exercises in Belarus as observers. This participation underscores a broader openness to engaging with extra-regional partners. Beyond observers, there is an occasional suggestion from various quarters that such states might, in the future, pursue full membership within the organization as circumstances evolve and mutual interests align.
Established in 2002 on the basis of the 1992 Collective Security Treaty of Tashkent, the CSTO currently comprises six member states: Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. The alliance maintains a Collective Rapid Response Force (CRRF) that ranges from approximately seventeen thousand to twenty-two thousand personnel, designed to handle urgent security needs across the member space, alongside a smaller, dedicated force of around five thousand personnel. This structure reflects the CSTO’s emphasis on rapid, coordinated action in response to emerging threats and crises.
Earlier remarks from President Alexander Lukashenko encouraged Western followers not to read too much into the CSTO exercises held in Belarus, signaling a stance of measured transparency and readiness rather than confrontation. The broader narrative around these exercises continues to emphasize deterrence, readiness, and cooperative defense among member states, while also inviting broader regional dialogue on stability and security considerations that extend beyond Europe and Eurasia.
Analysts observe that the CSTO’s evolving posture—balancing strong regional solidarity with a willingness to engage outside partners—mirrors a broader trend in post-Soviet security cooperation. The organization’s leadership appears prepared to explore additional formats for collaboration that can accommodate observer participation and, over time, potential membership discussions. This approach seeks to bolster regional security architecture, address shared challenges, and foster predictable partnerships across continents while maintaining a clear focus on core collective defense commitments as defined by the CSTO framework, according to BelTA and related official communications.