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.
Commentary by the CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas on the dramatic change in the situation in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
16.08.2021The rapid offensive of the “Taliban” movement, coming of most of the territory of Afghanistan under its control, including the state borders and the capital, Kabul, as well as the actual change of power in the country, significantly affect the situation in the CSTO Central Asian region of collective security and cause deep concern.
The CSTO is closely monitoring situation development on the Tajik-Afghan border. The main goal of the Organization in the emerging circumstances remains to ensure the security of the CSTO member States. In this regard, the priority in the activities of the Organization continues to be given to political and diplomatic means. In the case of aggravation of the situation and threat to the security of the Republic of Tajikistan, all necessary collective measures, stipulated by the charter documents, will be taken to provide assistance to the ally.
Today I had telephone conversations with the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Tajikistan Sherali Mirzo and the Secretary of the Security Council of the country Nasrullo Mahmudzoda. At present, the Tajik law enforcement agencies fully control the situation on the border, and there is no need to involve the CSTO mechanisms.
Preparations have already begun for the CSTO Collective Forces trainings, which will take place near the Tajik-Afghan border in the coming months.
There is no doubt that the situation around Afghanistan will be one of the main issues of discussion in the course of the upcoming session of the CSTO Collective Security Council, which will be held in mid-September in Dushanbe, the capital of the Republic of Tajikistan.
