Dr. Shoaib Khan. Visiting Faculty, Centre for Central Eurasian Studies, University of Mumbai; Founder and President, ALFAAZ Education and Cultural Society, Mumbai.

 

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) operates in a complex geopolitical environment. Alongside existing threats, new negative trends have emerged in recent years. CSTO has the required military capabilities to address current geopolitical issues. Its military component includes the Collective Rapid Reaction Force (CRRF) and its peacekeeping contingent, alongside regional forces from Eastern Europe and the Caucasus, as well as the Central Asian Collective Rapid Deployment Force. An arc of instability has formed across the Middle East and North Africa, creating more opportunities for extremist groups and organizations to carry out terrorist acts and other crimes against individuals, society, and the constitutional order.

 

After the Soviet Union's disintegration in 1991, five Central Asian states emerged, forcing the Russian government to develop better strategies for ensuring security in the region. Following independence, this area gradually became influenced by American and Western powers, becoming a convergence point for various security threats. Russia sought to enhance security in Central Asia through bilateral agreements.

 

After the 9/11 attacks, the focus on local security shifted towards multilateral systems for addressing territorial security, leading to the formation of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in 2002 under Russian leadership. This organization was part of the security coalition established by the Collective Security Treaty (CST). The Minsk Accords and the Almaty Declaration from December 1991 laid the foundation for a universal security policy. The Tajikistan civil war and the limited ability of Central Asian countries to protect their own security led to numerous peacekeeping operations.

 

These documents provided the framework for the Protocol on the Temporary Procedure for the Development and Use of Collective Peacekeeping Forces in Conflict Areas within or among member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), ultimately resulting in the approval of the Collective Security Treaty (CST) on May 15, 1992, in Tashkent. In recent years, the CSTO has gained significant influence due to the rapidly changing security situation in the Eurasian region. Developments in Afghanistan, the volatile domestic conditions in Central Asia, and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine have worsened an already fragile socio-economic, political, and security environment in Eurasia.

 

These challenges have raised CSTO's concerns, and the security bloc is expected to take concrete action. The conflict between Russia and the West has persisted for a long time. In this context, CSTO is primarily viewed as resistance to the Western alliance and a competitor to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The current Russia-Ukraine crisis has deepened the divide between NATO and CSTO, which was a notable topic during the CSTO Summit.

 

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pointed out that the unipolar international order is permanently gone, but the West is still striving to maintain its position. To counter NATO's military buildup on Russia's western borders and the full-scale hybrid war against Russia and Belarus, CSTO member states must unite against these threats. Russian President Vladimir Putin shared similar views with Lukashenko. In his speech, he criticized the presence of many specialized bio-laboratories and centers in post-Soviet countries like Ukraine, calling it extremely dangerous for the nations where these facilities are located and neighboring countries such as Russia, Armenia, and Belarus. Putin called for close coordination among CSTO members in their foreign policy, coordinated actions in the UN and other multilateral forums, and promoting common strategies for security challenges.

 

NATO expansion is often perceived as a threat to Russia and its allies. Two Nordic countries, Finland and Sweden, have expressed a desire to join NATO. The CSTO has expressed serious concerns over military strikes on Iranian territory and developments in the region. The CSTO Council urged all parties to exercise restraint and avoid actions that might escalate the conflict.

 

The organization also called upon the United Nations and the UN Security Council to take urgent measures to prevent the undermining of international peace and security. The document emphasizes the need to ensure Iran's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity. The CSTO Secretariat warned of the risk of a conflict escalation in the Middle East.

 

The major security organizations in the post-Soviet space include the Russia-led Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the GUAM grouping comprising Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which includes China, Russia, and Central Asian states, as well as new members from other regions. Their environment is marked by historical tensions, diverse security conditions, the slow stabilization of new national identities, and varied approaches to security. Western observers often view the CIS, CSTO, and SCO as hostile or ineffective groupings and question the effectiveness of GUAM.

 

The CIS includes all post-Soviet states except the Baltic countries and claims competencies in military cooperation particularly air defense, peace operations, and counter-terrorism. Its survival and practical achievements are notable. Russia has increasingly focused serious military cooperation on the smaller seven-member CSTO, which has a structure similar to NATO.

 

The SCO engages in confidence-building and military cooperation against "terrorist, extremist, and separatist elements." It rejects what it calls interference in internal affairs but promotes economic and other functional programs designed to foster development. The SCO's membership is subtly balanced in terms of power and has shown dynamism and flexibility.

 

Negative views, particularly from the Western perspective of the CIS, CSTO, and SCO, reflect the outside world's problematic security relations with both Russia and China, as well as normative concerns. Yet these groupings are an established reality in the Eurasian space and will gain more significance in the coming days. At best, they provide their members with some experience of what modern multilateralism means.

 

A special event called "The Synergy of Approaches of the CIS, CSTO, and SCO in the Field of Deradicalization: Challenges and Opportunities" was organized on October 28, 2025, at the CIS Headquarters in Minsk, Belarus. The main purpose of this event was to strengthen the practical cooperation between the CIS, CSTO, and SCO in dealing with extremism and the spread of radical ideas. The main goal of the event was to create a good platform for sharing experiences, talking about current threats related to radicalization, and developing coordinated strategies and practical steps to reduce the involvement of young people and other vulnerable groups in harmful ideological movements. Participants discussed topics such as coordinating efforts to prevent extremism. Sharing successful methods of deradicalization programs, and setting up long-term mechanisms to counter radical ideologies.

 

The CSTO, CIS, and SCO have a deep understanding of the political, economic, and social factors behind conflicts and threats to peace in their region. It is because of their close ties and shared experiences. Due to this, they are well-placed to help countries in the region create and implement conflict prevention and early warning strategies that are tailored to their specific needs while respecting their sovereignty.

 

There is an ongoing cooperation between the United Nations and the CSTO, CIS, and SCO. Along with partnerships with the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), the Counter-Terrorism Committee. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, is especially important for promoting peace, security, and stability in the region.

 

The Middle East conflict in 2025–26, marked by the growing war between Iran on one side and the US-Israeli alliance on the other, has led to strong reactions from the SCO, CSTO, and CIS. These reactions are largely driven by the diplomatic stances of Russia and China. These organizations have generally criticized Western-backed US-Israeli actions.

 

This conflict poses a serious threat to global energy supplies and maritime security. In response, Russian-aligned organizations — the CSTO, SCO, and CIS — are playing a key role in 2026 as platforms for diplomatic, economic, and security coordination. Their aim is to counterbalance Western influence and manage the effects of the crisis in Eurasia.