Ex-Soviet group looks at boosting security ties

Leaders of a collective of former Soviet states have been meeting in the Belarussian capital Minsk – aiming to boost their level of cooperation in order to serve as a counterweight to NATO. The Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, or CSTO, brings together presidents from Belarus, Kazhakstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Russia.

One of the Kremlin’s objectives is for the CSTO to be able to launch a peacekeeping force that could be deployed either within member states or outside under a UN mandate. The Russians are concerned by NATO’s planned expansion into neighbouring states such as Ukraine and Georgia, and complain of being given the cold shoulder by the Alliance. Other issues on the agenda include what are described as “concrete measures” to stop the flow of drugs westwards from Afghanistan, and cooperation on halting the illegal trade in light arms.

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