Lead
The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is set to hold four command and staff and rescue drills in 2027 across the territory of Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, according to the bloc's Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov. The announcement came during a meeting of the organization’s Committee of Security Council Secretaries, as reported by TASS.
This follows separate consultations among CSTO defense ministries on May 20, which focused on improving air defense and developing the Collective Air Forces, as detailed by the press secretary of the CSTO Joint Staff, Vladislav Shchegrikovich.
Coverage Comparison
TASS, the Russian state news agency, covered both events in separate reports. The first, published on May 21, detailed the defense ministry consultations that took place via video link a day earlier. The second, published on May 26, focused on the 2027 exercise plan announced by Secretary General Masadykov. Both reports were framed around the development of military cooperation among member states and the implementation of planned decisions.
Key Claims
The 2027 plan, as outlined by Masadykov, includes the Interaction command and staff and rescue drills on the territory of Tajikistan, the Indestructible Brotherhood drills in Kyrgyzstan, the Frontier 2027 exercise in Russia, and the Cobalt 2027 exercise in Belarus. The plan also envisions a joint business game involving the Joint Staff Secretariat and an operational group of CSTO member states to practice response to a crisis situation in the organization’s area of responsibility.
The plan was drafted in fulfillment of decisions by the Council of CSTO Defense Ministers and the Committee of CSTO Security Council Secretaries, according to Masadykov.
During the May 20 consultations, participants discussed current issues related to improving air defense to cover CSTO troops (Collective Forces) during joint military operations and developing the CSTO Collective Air Forces, said Shchegrikovich. They also agreed on drafts of relevant documents being developed as part of the organization’s priority areas during Russia’s presidency in 2026.
The consultations were chaired by Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff Colonel General Andrey Serdyukov, with participation of authorized representatives from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.
Perspectives
CSTO Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov emphasized the importance of the planned drills in developing military cooperation among member states and fulfilling decisions by the bloc's governing bodies, as reported by TASS.
CSTO Joint Staff Officials highlighted the focus on air defense improvements and the development of Collective Air Forces, with Shchegrikovich providing details on the consultations led by Chief of Staff Colonel General Andrey Serdyukov.