The CSTO is Concerned About the Return of Bloc Confrontation in International Relations

On December 5, the CSTO website published the text of the Declaration of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, in which the CSTO countries declared their firm commitment to building international relations based on universally recognized principles and norms of international law, primarily the UN Charter.

“We reaffirm the obligation to refrain from the use of force or threat of force in interstate relations and to resolve all disagreements between ourselves and other states by peaceful means,” the declaration said.

The document says the Organization's Member States express concern about “the return to international relations of a bloc confrontation mentality, the degradation of the situation in the field of strategic stability, and the increased risks of direct confrontation between states with military nuclear capabilities.”

“We note the importance of preserving outer space for peaceful purposes in the interests of future generations and in this regard emphasize the need to intensify common efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space. We call for the start of a dialogue to find a global response to the growing challenges associated with the proliferation of missiles and missile technologies," reads the Declaration.

As you may recall, at the May meeting of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly in Minsk, the parliamentarians supported the Statement of the CSTO PA Council on the prevention of an arms race in outer space. In it they expressed their intention to “actively contribute to the efforts of the international community to keep outer space free of weapons of any kind.”

“We strongly condemn terrorism in all forms and manifestations. We support further consolidation of efforts of the CSTO Member States in the fight against international terrorism and extremism, drug trafficking and illegal migration,” the document said.

The Declaration called strengthening the defence capabilities of the CSTO Member States and maintaining the readiness of the armed forces one of the key areas of the CSTO's activities.