Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Valery Gerasimov: Strengthening the CSTO Collective Forces is one of Russia’s top priorities

According to the website of the Russian Ministry of Defence, Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, first deputy Minister of Defence, General of the Army said this during a meeting with representatives of the military diplomatic corps accredited in Russia.
Valery Gerasimov presented to foreign military attachés some of the results of the Russian Armed Forces’ activities in 2020 and plans for 2021.
Speaking about cooperation within the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Valery Gerasimov noted that in 2020 the focus was still on strengthening the CSTO Collective Forces.
The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation noted that on December 1, the Council of Ministers of Defence of the CSTO Member States chaired by the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation held a virtual meeting to consider the proposals on joint counteraction to challenges and threats to collective security.
Regarding joint counteraction to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Valery Gerasimov recalled that by decision of the President of the Russian Federation, joint units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation were promptly formed and sent to assist in pandemic foci in Europe, the Transcaucasian region and Central Asian countries.
The necessary assistance measures have helped reduce the incidence of the new coronavirus infection among the local population.
In 2020, the CSTO conducted a number of large-scale exercises, Valery Gerasimov recalled.
“This includes Unbreakable Brotherhood, a command and staff exercise with the CSTO Peacekeeping Forces, and Echelon, a special exercise of the logistics function,” said Valery Gerasimov as quoted by the Defence Ministry website.
In 2021, the main event of the Armed Forces’ training will be a joint strategic exercise of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus Zapad 2021.
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