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.
A discussion on countering illegal migration took place in Minsk
14.12.2023
On December 13, 2023, Minsk hosted the 26th meeting of the Coordination Council of the Heads of the Competent Authorities for Countering Illegal Migration.
Delegations from the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Belarus and the CSTO Secretariat summarized the results of the CSTO regional operation "Illegal-2023" to combat illegal migration in 2023 and discussed the migration situation in the CSTO member states.
Opening the meeting, Yury Nazarenko, First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus - Head of the Public Security Police, noted that in recent years the migration issue had become more and more topical and required certain measures to be taken both at the national and interstate levels. Changing geopolitical and economic realities were transforming migration processes very quickly, creating certain challenges and threats for each state. In this regard, according to the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, one should not forget the benefits that can be derived from orderly and regulated migration. That is why the elaboration of a single coordinated strategy is an integral part of overall success.
Experience was exchanged on issues of migration control in relation to foreigners, issuance of temporary residence permits and admission to citizenship in a simplified procedure, and combating illegal employment of migrant workers.
The parties also discussed various aspects of improving the activities of the Coordination Council. Particular attention was paid to the formation of common information resources, improving the quality and efficiency of interaction in identifying and suppressing channels of illegal migration.
A number of documents were signed as a result of the meeting.
