From 1 January 2026, Russia began performing the duties of chair of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). In this regard, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued an address and announced Moscow’s key priorities for its chairmanship. This was reported by podrobno.uz.reports.
According to Lavrov, Russia will lead the chairmanship under the slogan “Collective security in a multipolar world: a single goal, shared responsibility.” He stressed that within the CSTO, member states intend to pool efforts to defend common approaches to international security.
The minister noted that the organization’s work is based on the principles of peaceful coexistence, prioritizing political and diplomatic settlement of conflicts, and adherence to international law under the decisive role of the UN. On this basis, Russia proposes strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation with partners and jointly taking part in shaping the future architecture of equal and indivisible security across Eurasia. The CSTO is seen as one of the possible pillars of such a system.
Lavrov said the CSTO was formed as an association of allied states that is not directed against third countries and is not aggressive in nature. According to him, all decisions in the organization are made by consensus, taking into account a balance of interests and the principles of mutual respect, good-neighborliness, and assistance.
Russia plans to maintain continuity of initiatives developed during Kyrgyzstan’s chairmanship and to consistently develop the main areas of cooperation. Amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, Moscow aims to further consolidate CSTO states, strengthen allied ties, and deepen coordination on pressing international issues.
During the chairmanship, special attention will be paid to the organization’s core mission—ensuring peace and stability in its area of responsibility and creating conditions for the secure development and sustainable prosperity of member states. Lavrov emphasized that Russia intends to prevent instability and “chaos” in the CSTO area.
One of the priorities is also the development of the CSTO’s force component. Plans include boosting the combat capabilities of the Collective Forces, equipping them with modern weapons and hardware, and ensuring system interoperability while taking into account the experience of modern armed conflicts.
Cooperation will also be strengthened in protecting against biological threats, information security, developing defense-industrial complexes, and leveraging the innovative potential of member countries. Russia also plans to expand tools for joint efforts against international terrorism and extremism, illicit drug and arms trafficking, transnational organized crime, terrorist financing, and illegal migration.
The address also highlighted the importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation. It noted that 2026 will mark the 20th anniversary of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly; in Lavrov’s view, it plays an important role in shaping the organization’s unified legal space.
Lavrov expressed confidence in support from CSTO partners and emphasized readiness for close and effective cooperation throughout 2026. He said joint efforts could bring cooperation within the organization to a qualitatively new level.
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