Minsk concerned about intensification of NATO activity on CSTO western borders
Minsk is concerned about the intensification of activities of NATO member countries on the CSTO western borders – as stated by Belarus’ Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov at today’s joint meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, the Council of Defence Ministers and the Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation in Astana, sb.by reports with reference to Belarus’ Foreign Ministry
The event was attended by a delegation of Belarus headed by Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, State Secretary of the Security Council Aleksandr Volfovich, and Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin.
The meeting participants exchanged views on a wide range of regional and global security issues, as well as on the current military and political situation in the CSTO area of responsibility.
Speaking on behalf of the Belarusian delegation, Maxim Ryzhenkov reported on the unprecedented increase in tension in the region and the world as a whole, the aggravation of armed conflicts and the militarisation of international relations. He expressed concern about the intensification of activities of NATO member states on the CSTO western borders and the build-up of the alliance's offensive potential in the immediate vicinity of the borders of Belarus.
The Foreign Minister called for intensifying efforts to de-escalate tensions and intensify a substantive dialogue on building an architecture of equal and indivisible security in the Eurasian space as part of the formation of a new multipolar world order. In this context, he recalled the 2nd Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security, held on October 31st – November 1st, 2024: the discussion of relevant issues was organised then.
Maxim Ryzhenkov emphasised the significant role of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation both in strengthening security and stability in the Eurasian space and in ensuring the security of its member states. He noted the importance of joint, solidary work within CSTO in order to effectively confront modern challenges and threats to security.
The joint meeting adopted statements by the CSTO foreign ministers on the situation in Afghanistan and in connection with the 20th anniversary of the CSTO observer status in the UN General Assembly, as well as a number of documents on strengthening the CSTO military component.
Secretaries of the CSTO security councils, foreign and defence ministers also approved a number of documents on topical issues of development and improvement of the organisation in the political, military and military-technical spheres, which were submitted to the CSTO Collective Security Council session.
