Collective Security Treaty Organization facts for kids

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Collective Security Treaty Organization
Организация Договора о коллективной безопасности
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Flag
Map showing the CSTO members, with the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine shown in light green
Abbreviation	CSTO
Formation	14 February 1992 (as the Unified Armed Forces) 15 May 1992 (as Collective Security Treaty) 7 October 2002 (as Collective Security Treaty Organization)
Type	Military alliance
Headquarters	Moscow, Russia
Location	Eurasia
Region served	Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia, Northern Asia
Membership	6 members Armenia Belarus Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Russia Tajikistan 3 former members Azerbaijan Georgia Uzbekistan 1 observer Serbia 1 former observer Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Official language	Russian
Secretary General	Imangali Tasmagambetov
Chairman	Alexander Lukashenko

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is a group of six countries in Eurasia that work together for their safety. These countries are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. They formed this group in 2002.

The CSTO is like a military alliance. This means if one member country is attacked, it's seen as an attack on all of them. This idea is similar to how the NATO alliance works. Countries in the CSTO agree not to use force against each other. They also promise not to join other military alliances.

How the CSTO Works
CSTO Activities
CSTO History
CSTO Members
CSTO Secretary General
CSTO Focus Areas
- Cyber Security
Images for kids
See also

How the CSTO Works

The CSTO has a special group called the Parliamentary Assembly. This group helps the member countries work together.

The leader of the CSTO changes every year. This is called a "rotating presidency."

If a non-member country wants to set up a military base in a CSTO country, all CSTO members must agree.

CSTO Activities

The CSTO does many things to keep its members safe and work together.

Military Drills

The CSTO holds military exercises every year. These drills help the armies of the member countries practice working together. In 2011, a very large exercise took place with over 10,000 soldiers.

Peacekeeping Force

The CSTO has a special peacekeeping force. This force helps keep peace in areas where there is conflict. They have been sent to places like Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The troops come from the member countries.

In 2007, CSTO members agreed to make this force bigger. They also decided that all members could buy Russian weapons at the same price as Russia. In January 2022, the CSTO sent about 2,000 peacekeepers to Kazakhstan to help with protests.

Collective Rapid Reaction Force

In 2009, most CSTO members agreed to create a special quick-response force. This force is called the Collective Rapid Reaction Force (KSOR). It is meant to stop military attacks and fight against terrorism. It also helps with natural disasters.

Some countries, like Uzbekistan, did not join this force permanently. Uzbekistan worried that a new military base in Kyrgyzstan could cause problems.

CSTO History

How the CSTO Started

On May 15, 1992, six countries signed a treaty called the Collective Security Treaty. These countries were Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Later, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Georgia also signed. The treaty started in 1994.

In 1999, six of these countries decided to renew the treaty. Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan did not renew it. Uzbekistan joined another group called GUAM, which aimed to reduce Russia's influence.

The CSTO itself was officially formed in 2002. The six member countries decided to create a stronger military alliance.

From 2003 to 2012

In 2004, the CSTO was allowed to observe meetings at the United Nations. In 2005, the CSTO countries held more joint military exercises.

CSTO and EAEC leaders in 2006 (2006)

Uzbekistan rejoined the CSTO in 2006. In 2007, the CSTO also made an agreement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to work together on security.

In 2009, Belarus did not attend a CSTO meeting because of a trade dispute with Russia. The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, questioned why his soldiers should fight in other countries.

In 2010, there were protests in Kyrgyzstan. The President of Kyrgyzstan, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, was removed from power. He was given safety in Belarus. President Lukashenko wondered why the CSTO did not stop this.

Later in 2010, there were ethnic clashes in southern Kyrgyzstan. The interim President of Kyrgyzstan asked for help from Russian troops. The CSTO did not send troops, saying it was an internal matter. However, the CSTO Secretary General later said that "foreign mercenaries" might have caused the violence.

The CSTO meeting in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan (2018)

In December 2010, CSTO members agreed to set up a peacekeeping force. They also agreed that member countries could stop new foreign military bases from being built on their land.

In June 2012, Uzbekistan left the CSTO again.

From 2013 to Today

In 2014, soldiers from CSTO countries practiced cyber warfare in Kazakhstan. In 2015, the CSTO offered to send peacekeepers to Donbas, Ukraine, if the United Nations approved.

In July 2021, Tajikistan asked CSTO members for help. This was because of security problems near its border with Afghanistan.

CSTO Summit 2022

In January 2022, CSTO peacekeepers were sent to Kazakhstan to help with protests. They started leaving Kazakhstan on January 11. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the CSTO has not been officially involved.

After fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan in September 2022, Armenia asked the CSTO for help. A CSTO team went to the border to check the situation. However, Armenia felt the CSTO did not do enough. This led to questions in Armenia about staying in the CSTO.

In November 2022, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan refused to sign a joint statement at a CSTO meeting. He said it did not address Azerbaijan's actions against Armenia. Many people in Armenia protested, asking their country to leave the CSTO.

In January 2023, Armenia refused to hold joint military drills with the CSTO. Prime Minister Pashinyan said Armenia would consider leaving the CSTO if it did not get clear support.

Meeting of the Council of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Minsk (May 2023)

In September 2023, Prime Minister Pashinyan said it was a mistake for Armenia to rely only on Russia for its safety. He said Russia could not meet Armenia's security needs. Armenia started looking for security help from other partners, like the European Union and the United States.

In October 2023, Armenia did not join CSTO military exercises. Prime Minister Pashinyan also said he saw "no advantage" in Russian troops being in Armenia.

In February 2024, Armenia officially froze its participation in the CSTO. Prime Minister Pashinyan said the CSTO was a "threat to the national security of Armenia." He said Armenia would fully withdraw if the CSTO did not clarify its position on Armenia's borders. In May 2024, Armenia stopped paying its financial contributions to the CSTO.

CSTO Members

Map showing the CSTO members, observers and associated members. Includes the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, the Russian-occupied territories in Georgia, and the breakaway republic Transnistria.

Current Member States

These countries are currently members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization:

Country	Year of entry
Armenia	1994
Belarus
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Russia
Tajikistan

Former Member States

These countries were once part of the Collective Security Treaty (CST) or the CSTO:

Country	Organisation	Year of entry	Year of withdrawal
Azerbaijan	CST	1994	1999
Georgia	CST	1994	1999
Uzbekistan	CST	1994	1999
Uzbekistan	CSTO	2006	2012

Observer States

Some countries have observer status in the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly. This means they can attend meetings but are not full members.

Country	Participating Body	Year of entry
Serbia	National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia	2013
Union State	Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia	2010
Afghanistan	National Assembly of the Republic of Afghanistan	2013

Possible New Members

In 2007, the CSTO Secretary-General said that Iran could join the CSTO if it applied. If Iran joined, it would be the first country outside the former Soviet Union to be a member.

Uzbekistan has also shown interest in working more closely with the CSTO again.

CSTO Secretary General

The Secretary General is the main leader of the CSTO. The current Secretary General is Imangali Tasmagambetov. He started his job on January 1, 2023.

CSTO Focus Areas

Cyber Security

CSTO members work together to fight cyber threats and computer crimes. They want to create a "Cyber Shield" system to protect their information technology.

Images for kids

CSTO and EAEC leaders in 2006
The CSTO meeting in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, 8 November 2018
CSTO Summit 2022
Meeting of the Council of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Minsk (May 2023)