Russia to come up with plan for CSTO military cooperation until 2025, says Putin

BISHKEK, November 28. /TASS/. During its presidency of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Russia will present a military cooperation plan for five years - until 2025, to its CSTO partners, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday. "Russia intends to closely cooperate with the CSTO member countries with an aim to expand operational capabilities of the Organization, improve combat training, teamwork and mobility of the CSTO collective forces," the president said. "I intend to work out and suggest to our partners a plan for military cooperation within the CSTO for five years - until 2025," Putin told a session of the CSTO Collective Security Council on Thursday. This plan could be approved by the leaders at the next summit, he suggested. Russia assumes the rotating presidency of the CSTO, a post-Soviet security bloc, in 2020. Addressing the session in Bishkek, Putin outlined Russia's priorities for the coming period. "First of all, we believe it is important to continue the planned and consistent implementation of the CSTO collective security strategy until 2025. I am referring to the solution of practical issues related to the prevention or reduction of common threats, strengthening security in our countries," the head of the Russian state said. Russia intends to closely cooperate with the CSTO member countries with an aim to expand operational capabilities, the president stressed. The Collective Security Council meets on Thursday in the Ala-Archa presidential residence under the chairmanship of Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov. Also taking part in the council’s session are Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon take part in the council’s session. Read more