Andrei Serdyukov: Proactive Measures Are Needed to Increase Combat Potential of CSTO Troops

Andrei Serdyukov, Colonel General and Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, noted the importance of proactive measures to build up the combat potential of the CSTO Troops, as well as the need to prevent subregional issues from escalating into regional conflicts. He made this statement at the international conference on defence and security of the CSTO Member States, which is taking place on November 20-21 in Minsk.

“It is important to emphasize that in the context of rapidly deteriorating geopolitical situation, growing strategic instability in the world and rejection of universal norms of international law, it is necessary to develop and take proactive measures at the interstate level to increase the combat potential of the CSTO Troops (Collective Forces), to ensure their readiness for timely, efficient and adequate response to emerging risks and threats, as well as to prevent subregional issues from escalating into regional conflicts,” Andrei Serdyukov highlighted.

In addition, the Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff stated the need to expand the system of fundamental research organizations of the CSTO, in particular by adding specialized institutes from all CSTO Member States to organize a scientific study of problematic issues in current areas of development and deployment of the CSTO Troops (Collective Forces).

Representatives of structural units of the Ministry of Defence, the General Staff of the Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, republican government bodies and institutions of higher education, representatives of the Armed Forces of CSTO Member States, the Secretariat and the Joint Staff of the Organization are also taking part in the conference.