CSTO ready for cooperation with Africa, Latin America

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is ready to develop cooperation with the countries of Africa and Latin America, Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff Anatoly Sidorov told a briefing on 28 August, BelTA has learned.

“Keeping in mind that the CSTO member states are building close relations with African countries, there is a prospect of holding joint events with them. We are ready to cooperate with both Africa and Latin America if the states from these continents express a wish to be partners or observers. A week ago, we could not say for sure what the composition of the BRICS would be. The same applies to the CSTO. We could only guess and speculate. The heads of state took a decision and BRICS has increased by six states. The same may happen with the CSTO,” Anatoly Sidorov said.

He recalled that representatives of Saudi Arabia, Iran, China and Mongolia would be present as observers at the CSTO exercise in Belarus. “The time may well come when these or other states will be observers and partners in the organization. They may even become members,” Anatoly Sidorov said.

Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff Anatoly Sidorov held a briefing with representatives of defense agencies and mass media of the organization's member states. The key topic was the upcoming CSTO exercise in Belarus.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization's joint operational and strategic exercise Combat Brotherhood 2023 will take place in Belarus on 1-6 September. The exercise will feature the CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Force, the reconnaissance forces and means of the CSTO armed forces, the logistics support forces of the CSTO troops, and the CSTO radiation, chemical and biological protection and medical support unit.