The Number of Provocations Is Increasing: Shoigu

The ongoing expansion of NATO poses a direct threat to the member states of the CSTO. This was stated by the Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, Sergey Shoigu, during a meeting with his CSTO counterparts held in Almaty on Thursday, as reported by rg.ru.

According to him, the military presence of the alliance is increasing along the northern and western borders of the collective security zone, and new weapon systems are being deployed. 'The number of provocations in the airspace is increasing; numerous military exercises are being conducted, including incursions into the territories of CSTO countries,' noted Shoigu.

In this context, he emphasized the importance of developing military and military-technical cooperation within the CSTO framework. 'Russia will continue to do everything possible to improve and develop effective cooperation within the CSTO, fostering deepening strategic allied relations with all member states of the organization, thereby ensuring our common security,' Shoigu stressed.

He also mentioned that the situation in the CSTO responsibility zone remains complex, and there is a tendency for it to deteriorate. One of the main reasons, according to Shoigu, is the policies of Western countries, primarily the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, aimed at destroying the international security system. 'There is an obvious attempt to turn the Eurasian region into a theater of geopolitical confrontation; for this purpose, the broadest arsenal of means is being used, including direct interference in the internal affairs of independent states, political pressure, blackmail, threats, illegal sanctions, and other methods,' stated the Secretary of the Security Council of Russia.