On July 15, 2026, the High-Level Regional Meeting “Enhancing Capacities to Prevent the Supply of Weapons to Terrorists in Central Asia” was held in Moscow, organized by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism with the participation of the Russian side.
On July 14, 2026, a working meeting was held at the CSTO Secretariat between CSTO Deputy Secretary General Valery Semerikov and UN Assistant Secretary-General Alexander Zuev.
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.
Regular meeting of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers held in Kazan
10.06.2026
On June 10, 2026, a regular meeting of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers was held in Kazan (Russian Federation) under the chairmanship of the Russian side, with the participation of CSTO Secretary General Talatbek Masadykov. CIS Deputy Secretary General Denis Trefilov and SCO Deputy Secretary General Oleg Kopylov were also invited to attend the meeting.
The event began with a flower-laying ceremony at the Eternal Flame in Victory Park.
The participants held a detailed discussion of the international and regional situation and its impact on the security of the CSTO member states.
During the discussion, Chairman of the CSTO Council of Foreign Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov noted:
“Today, it is precisely in Eurasia that processes are unfolding which have a direct impact on the formation of a more just multipolar world order. First and foremost, this concerns the emergence and strengthening of new global centers and their integration associations located in this region. It is evident that a polycentric architecture must be based on the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety and interconnection, take into account the cultural and civilizational diversity of the modern world, and respect the right of peoples to determine their own paths and models of development. It is on the basis of these values that our allied relations within the CSTO are built.
Disregard for fundamental norms of international law and attempts to solve one’s own problems and strengthen one’s security at the expense of others through the use of force do not lead to peace but rather to the destabilization of international relations, aggravating existing conflicts and creating new ones.”
CSTO Secretary General Talatbek Masadykov stated in particular:
“Dialogue on strategic stability has virtually ceased. Efforts to develop the latest systems of strategic offensive and defensive weapons have intensified, while statements are being made about the possible resumption of nuclear testing. Intentions have been voiced to deploy intermediate- and shorter-range missiles in various regions of the world and to place strike weapons in outer space. At the same time, ideas aimed at achieving decisive superiority through the introduction of artificial intelligence into all areas of military activity are being revived.
Thus, we are witnessing the resumption of an arms race, which in the coming years will have a direct adverse impact on the stability of the Eurasian space. We are closely monitoring and analyzing these trends.”
Following the meeting, the foreign ministers of the CSTO member states adopted a statement marking the 85th anniversary of the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945, as well as statements on preventing an arms race in outer space, countering the use of information and communication technologies for subversive and terrorist purposes, strengthening the role of international law, and reaffirming commitment to the principles of the UN Charter.
In addition, a number of documents were approved, including the draft Decision of the CSTO Collective Security Council “On the Anti-Drug Strategy of the Member States of the Collective Security Treaty Organization until 2030.”
