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.
Regular meeting of the CSTO Council of Defense Ministers held in Moscow
03.06.2026
On June 3, 2026, a regular meeting of the CSTO Council of Defense Ministers (CDM) was held at the Patriot Central Park of the Russian Ministry of Defense under the chairmanship of the Russian side. The meeting was attended by CSTO Secretary General Talatbek Masadykov and Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff Andrey Serdyukov.
The event began with the heads of delegations laying flowers at the “Mothers of the Victors” monument.
The participants held a substantive exchange of views on issues related to strengthening military security in the CSTO area of responsibility.
During the discussion, Chairman of the CSTO Council of Defense Ministers and Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation Andrey Belousov stated in particular: “At the initiative of the Russian Federation, draft decisions have been prepared aimed at improving the Organization’s forces and enhancing the joint training of personnel. In the current environment of global uncertainty and tension, their implementation will deepen our cooperation. The contemporary military-political situation requires joint efforts and coordinated actions by the defense ministries of the CSTO member states.”
CSTO Secretary General Talatbek Masadykov noted: “Analysis of the military-political situation indicates that the number of challenges and threats to the military security of the CSTO member states in Eurasia is increasing, reflecting a growing geopolitical confrontation. Against this backdrop, the main sources of these challenges and threats are the buildup of NATO military capabilities in Europe, the armed conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as the growth of conflict potential in Afghanistan and the increased activity of international terrorist and extremist organizations.”
A number of bilateral meetings were held on the sidelines of the session.
Following the meeting, several documents were adopted, including draft decisions of the CSTO Collective Security Council “On the Procedure for Forming Mobile Air Defense Units to Protect the Troops (Collective Forces) of the Collective Security Treaty Organization During Joint Military Operations” and “On the Development of the Collective Aviation Forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization,” as well as decisions of the CSTO Council of Defense Ministers “On the Introduction of New Specialties into the Military Training System of the Member States of the Collective Security Treaty Organization” and “On the Plan for Joint Training of Command and Control Bodies and Forces and Assets of the Collective Security System of the Collective Security Treaty Organization for 2027.”
