Since January 1 Kazakhstan Began its CSTO Presidency

The chairmanship of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) passed to the Republic of Kazakhstan since January 1 2024. 

In 2023, the Republic of Belarus presided over the Organization.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan, speaking at the session of the CSTO Collective Security Council in November last year in Minsk said that Kazakhstan aims at the progressive and balanced development of the Organization, strengthening collective security, taking into account the national interests of all member states. 

In addition, Mr. Tokayev voiced the priority areas on which the CSTO will focus this year. These are partnerships with interested countries and international organizations in the field of security, development of coordinated action on military cooperation with the finalization of the legal framework to ensure the operational deployment of the CSTO Collective Forces, development of cooperation in combating international terrorism and extremism, countering illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, combating illicit arms trafficking and organized transnational crime, deepening cooperation in emergency prevention and response, and countering IT crimes. 

As you may recall, CSTO comprises six post-Soviet countries – Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. The Collective Security Council (CSC) is the highest body of the Organization. Since January 2023, the CSTO Secretary General is Imangali Tasmagambetov, who previously worked as Minister of Defence and Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan.