From July 7 to 9, second staff talks were held in the Russian Federation on the organization and conduct of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces (CRRF) command-and-staff exercise “Interaction-2026”, the special reconnaissance exercise “Poisk-2026”, and the logistics support exercise “Echelon-2026”.
In accordance with the 2026 Action Plan of the Coordinating Council of Heads of the Competent Authorities for Countering Illicit Drug Trafficking of the CSTO Member States, and as part of the Russian Federation's priorities during its 2026 CSTO Chairmanship, the sub-regional counter-narcotics operation “Kanal – Amber Coast” was conducted from June 29 to July 3, 2026. The operation was aimed at disrupting trafficking routes for narcotic drugs, their precursors and analogues, new psychoactive substances, and potent substances into the CSTO area of responsibility, neutralizing international transnational drug trafficking groups, dismantling clandestine drug production facilities, undermining the economic foundations of the drug trade, including the laundering of drug proceeds.
The 12th Southern Information Security Forum “Infoforum Sochi 2026” is taking place in Sochi, Russia, from June 30 to July 3. On July 1, the Forum's plenary session brought together representatives of federal and regional authorities, regulatory bodies, leading companies, and international organizations to discuss current challenges in the protection of critical infrastructure, the development of artificial intelligence, and international cooperation.
On June 30 – July 1, 2026, Saint Petersburg hosted a series of events chaired by Alexander Kurenkov, Minister of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters, with the participation of heads of the competent authorities of the CSTO member states responsible for emergency prevention and response.
From June 24 to 26, 2026, CSTO Secretary General Talatbek Masadykov paid a working visit to the Republic of Tajikistan at the personal invitation of President Emomali Rahmon.
The CSTO Secretary General Talatbek Masadykov met with MGIMO Rector and RAS Academician Anatoly Torkunov
13.03.2026
A working meeting was held at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (University) of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs between Talatbek Masadykov, Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, and Anatoly Torkunov, Rector of MGIMO and Academician of RAS.
The parties have discussed prospects for cooperation between the CSTO and a leading specialized university, focusing on the training of international relations specialists in the field of Eurasian security. During the discussion, it was noted that drawing on MGIMO’s expertise and academic resources could significantly strengthen the analytical support for the Organization’s activities.
The Secretary-General emphasized the importance of in-depth, evidence-based research for developing solutions to a wide range of contemporary challenges and threats.
The rector of MGIMO, in turn, confirmed the university’s interest in active cooperation, noting the priority attention the university has traditionally given to the study of international security.
Among the specific agreements is the organization of the International Scientific and Practical Conference titled “The Outlines of a New Architecture of Collective Security: Current Issues in the CSTO’s Information and Analytical Partnership.”
