Russia Takes 2026 Presidency Of The Collective Security Treaty Organisation

Russia has assumed the presidency of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) from January 1st and will hold it under the motto “Collective Security in a Multipolar World: Common Goal, Shared Responsibility.”

The CSTO is sometimes referred to as Central Asia’s equivalent to NATO and has been regarded as a threat by both the European Union and NATO itself. It includes active participation from Russia, in addition to Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, and provides security, anti-terrorism, and anti-narcotics operations, with a particular eye on developments in Afghanistan. Russian President Putin discussed this exact issue with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon on December 31 on news of security incidents along the Afghan-Tajik border.

The CSTO is a partner to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation which also provides regional security mechanisms; however, the CSTO has a rapid-response group that can be placed into action at short notice. The last time, the CRRF was deployed to Western Kazakhstan in 2022 to ensure law and order and maintain the protection of the sovereignty of one of the organization’s members.

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, had this to say about Russia holding the 2026 CSTO Presidency:

“Together with our CSTO allies, we are joining forces to uphold our common approaches to resolving international security issues. The fundamental documents of the organization set forth the principles of peaceful coexistence of states, the priority of a political and diplomatic settlement, and compliance with international law, with the UN playing a leading role. This forms the foundation for working with our partners to forge mutually beneficial relations and to actively engage in shaping the contours of a future architecture of equal and indivisible security across the Eurasian space. The CSTO could become one of its pillars. We would like the Eurasian states to take responsibility for resolving security issues and determine the future of the continent themselves, without any outside interference.

The Collective Security Treaty Organisation has emerged as a prominent and respected association of allied states, whose activities are not directed against anyone, do not contain any aggressive aspirations, and aim exclusively to maintain regional stability and ensure the well-being of its member states. Moreover, all decisions in the organization are made by consensus based on a balance of interests, and cooperation is based on the principles of respect for each other, good neighborliness, genuine friendship, and mutual support.

Russia will ensure continuity in the development of main areas of cooperation, among other things, by continuing to work on implementing the initiatives of the presidency of the Kyrgyz Republic, which has just finished.

In view of geopolitical tension, we will strive to further consolidate CSTO member states, strengthen allied ties, and deepen coordination on key international matters. We will continue our policy of expanding the CSTO’s network of contacts with the Eurasian states and their integration associations.

Our efforts will focus on effectively fulfilling the Organisation’s primary mission, which consists of maintaining peace and stability in its area of responsibility and ensuring favourable conditions for safe development and prosperity of the CSTO member states. No one should have any doubts: we will not allow any chaos in our common home.

We attach great importance to the development of the enforcement dimension in the organization’s work. There are plans to focus on building up the capabilities of the Collective Forces of the CSTO, equipping them with up-to-date and compatible weapons and equipment. The work will be structured in accordance with the nature of current and potential challenges, taking into consideration the experience of present-day armed conflicts. We will pay special attention to cooperation in protection against biological threats and information security. Ensuring technological leadership in the military sphere, developing military-industrial complexes of the CSTO countries and promoting their cooperation, and fulfilling the innovative potential will also be among our priorities.

We intend to use a wider range of tools for jointly countering international terrorism and extremism, money laundering, and terrorist financing, as well as combating illicit drug and arms trafficking, transnational organized crime, and illegal migration.

To demonstrate our appreciation towards interparliamentary cooperation, we will mark the 20th anniversary of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly, which is carrying out important systemic work to create a unified legal space across the CSTO territory.

We are confident in the support of our partners in implementing the priorities of the Russian presidency and ready to work closely together and productively in 2026. I am convinced that through joint efforts we will bring cooperation within the CSTO to a new level to preserve and strengthen peace in the organization’s space.”