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.
CSTO Deputy Secretary General Valery Semerikov takes part in the 19th Meeting of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Units of the CIS Member States
10.06.2026
On June 9, 2026, a delegation of the Secretariat of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, headed by CSTO Deputy Secretary General Valery Semerikov, took part in the 19th Meeting of Heads of Lead Counter-Terrorism Units of the Competent Authorities of the CIS Member States and Heads of National Structures Responsible for Coordinating Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Extremism Activities. The event was organized by the Anti-Terrorism Center of the CIS Member States.
The participation of CSTO Secretariat representatives in the Meeting once again confirmed the special nature of the close cooperation and partnership that have developed between the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center and the CSTO Secretariat in combating terrorism and extremism across the post-Soviet space.
In his address to the plenary session, the CSTO Deputy Secretary General presented a comprehensive assessment of the current international security environment. Speaking about the specific threats within the CSTO area of responsibility, Valery Semerikov emphasized that, amid the erosion of fundamental deterrence mechanisms, terrorism and extremism are increasingly being used to advance political and economic interests and are becoming integrated into systems of hybrid warfare.
Providing a detailed overview of the situation in each of the CSTO collective security regions, Valery Semerikov noted:
“The situation along the CSTO’s western borders remains particularly tense. The main threat comes from the countries of the so-called ‘civilized’ Europe, which have succumbed to revanchist and militaristic fervor. Military expenditures continue to rise steadily. Calls to attack the Kaliningrad Region and impose transport and economic blockades on Kaliningrad and Transnistria pose serious risks and consequences. The level of conflict potential in the Caucasus region also remains high. I believe that the growing influence of the EU, the United States, and Türkiye in the region may create an even greater source of tension. Afghanistan remains the key factor influencing the situation in Central Asia, serving as a source of threats such as terrorism, drug trafficking, illegal migration, and the spread of radical ideas throughout the region. I am confident that the implementation of the Targeted Interstate Program to Strengthen the Tajik-Afghan State Border, adopted by our heads of state in 2024, will significantly reduce tensions and contribute to stabilizing the situation in the region.”
The head of the CSTO delegation also informed participants in detail about decisions that have been adopted and are planned within the Organization. These include the adoption of the Anti-Drug Strategy and its accompanying implementation measures, the Anti-Terrorism Strategy for 2026–2030, a new Plan for the Development of Military Cooperation providing for the development of the Collective Aviation Forces and the creation of an air defense system taking into account the experience of the special military operation, as well as initiatives in the fields of biological security and countering illegal migration. Particular emphasis was placed on the new Regulations on CSTO Response to Crisis Situations, approved by the Collective Security Council, which significantly reduce decision-making timelines, including those related to the deployment of the Collective Forces.
“We are firmly convinced that regardless of how effective a national security system may be, its effectiveness increases significantly when complemented by the capabilities of regional security systems and other international security mechanisms,” Valery Semerikov stressed.
During the Meeting, which was organized in the format of a plenary session and three specialized sessions, participants exchanged assessments of the situation in the field of countering terrorism and extremism, discussed issues of international cooperation, deradicalization, the application of artificial intelligence technologies, and scientific and educational support for counter-terrorism activities.
At the conclusion of the Meeting, a Final Document was adopted in which the participants reaffirmed their strong commitment to strengthening and expanding practical cooperation in countering terrorism and extremism, emphasized the importance of integrating operational, preventive, legislative, and scientific-educational components of cooperation, and confirmed their interest in further consolidating the efforts of the CIS, the SCO, and the CSTO to strengthen security throughout Eurasia, including through the implementation of the Roadmap for the Development of Cooperation among the three organizations signed by their Secretaries General in September 2025.
