An international scientific and practical conference entitled “The Situation in the Middle East, North Africa and the Sahara-Sahel Region: Development Forecasts for 2027” was held in Moscow, organized by the Center for Scientific and Analytical Information of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
On October 18, 2026, the “Cobalt-2026” special exercise opened in the Republic of Tajikistan, in accordance with the 2026 Plan for the Joint Training of Command and Control Bodies and Formations of Forces and Assets of the CSTO Collective Security System. The exercise involves special units of internal affairs and national security agencies, internal troops (National Guard), special services and anti-drug agencies, as well as rescue units incorporated into the Special Purpose Forces formations of the CSTO Collective Operational Reaction Forces (CORF).
From October 13 to 16, 2025, the 23rd International Combat Sambo Tournament for the Cup of the Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, featuring law enforcement personnel from CSTO member states, was held at the Ognikovo Park Hotel (19 Ognikovo, Istra District, Moscow Region).
Today, the final stages of the command-and-staff exercise with the CSTO Peacekeeping Forces “Indestructible Brotherhood-2026” and the special exercise with the CSTO joint NBC protection and medical support formation “Barrier-2026” took place at the Losvido and Starodorozhsky training ranges in the Republic of Belarus.
On October 15–16, a CSTO, CIS and SCO conference on security issues in Central Asia and Afghanistan was held in Moscow as part of Russia’s CSTO chairmanship programme.
The Republic of Kazakhstan launched the active phase of the command and staff training of the Collective Security Treaty Organization "Interaction-2022", special trainings "Search-2022" and "Echelon-2022”
03.10.2022The active phase of the command and staff training of the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces "Interaction-2022", special trainings "Search-2022" and "Echelon-2022" started today in the Republic of Kazakhstan at the training range "Matybulak".
The opening ceremony of the trainings was attended by Colonel General Anatoly Sidorov, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, Takhir Khayrulloyev, the CSTO Deputy Secretary General, representatives of the armed forces of the CSTO member states.
Lieutenant General Marat Khusainov, First Deputy Minister of Defense - Head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan, welcoming the participants of the trainings, noted the importance of the Organization in ensuring stability and security in the region and increasing the professionalism of military personnel of the member states of the Organization.
"The CSTO countries are strategic partners and allies, and the upcoming trainings will serve not only as a tool to improve the combat skills of troops and coherence of units of the collective forces, but will also become an example of effective international military cooperation, achieving successes towards the exchange of experience," Lieutenant General Marat Khusainov said.
During the opening ceremony of the training, Colonel General Anatoly Sidorov, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, said:
"Joint trainings are the highest and most effective form of joint training of command bodies, formations of forces and means of the CSTO collective security system, one of the most important means of improving combat readiness and fieldcraft.
The year 2022 is characterized by an aggravating situation in all regions of the CSTO collective security. Under these conditions, the CSTO Troops (Collective Forces) must remain in constant readiness to carry out earmarked tasks, including in conditions of modern proxy wars and armed conflicts with the enemy acting "under a foreign flag, with foreign hands”. At the same time, the CSTO Development Strategy gives priority to political and diplomatic settlement measures.
This year, the main activities of joint training are being conducted in the Central Asian region of collective security. The situation in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, which remains tense, characterized by instability and potential danger, has a key influence on the development of the situation in the Central Asian region of collective security.
The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which consists mainly of airborne troops, airborne assault, motorized rifle, artillery and special forces units, will practice the preparation and conduct of joint operations to localize the armed conflict in the Central Asian region of collective security, including the practical organization and conduct of reconnaissance and organization of Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics support.
For the first time, a new formation of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Collective Forces - a joint CSTO NBC protection unit - will be involved in practical operations.
I wish the participants in the special trainings to demonstrate their best skills: high professionalism, teamwork, and, if necessary, mutual assistance and support, and to confirm their readiness to act to ensure the collective security of our states”.
Military contingents of the CSTO member states, task forces of the CSTO Joint Staff and the CSTO Secretariat, special forces from special units of internal affairs bodies (police), security agencies and special services, as well as authorized bodies in the sphere of prevention and liquidation of consequences of emergencies take part in the trainings.
The total number of participants in the trainings in the Republic of Kazakhstan is more than 6,500 people and more than 850 pieces of military and special equipment, including aircraft, helicopters and strike drones. The core of the Russian contingent is made up of units of the Central Military District.
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Joint press center of the CSTO trainings
