MINSK, 24 May (BelTA) – A regular videoconference session of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Defense Ministers Council took place on 24 May, the press service of the Belarusian Defense Ministry told BelTA.
Belarusian Defense Minister, Lieutenant-General Viktor Khrenin took part in the session.
During the session the defense ministers exchanged opinions about matters relating to threats and challenges to military security in the CSTO collective security regions. They also discussed progress in realizing the proposals put forward in the wake of the Collective Security Treaty Organization's peacemaking operation in Kazakhstan.
The Belarusian defense minister briefly spoke about every collective security region. Close attention was paid to challenges and threats to military security, which are inherent in the Eastern European collective security region of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
Among other things Viktor Khrenin noted that the armed conflict in Ukraine may evolve into a regional war under certain circumstances. He also mentioned the buildup of NATO's offensive potential, which contributes to the disruption of the existing balance of forces in the region. The large-scale hybrid aggression of the West against Russia and Belarus was also mentioned.
Viktor Khrenin stressed that while principles of international law are completely ignored, the unity and solidarity of likeminded countries are particularly important. It is possible to counteract actions of the collective West and reliably protect national interests of the CSTO member states only through joint efforts, he said.
As part of the discussion about results of the Collective Security Treaty Organization's peacemaking operation in Kazakhstan, the Belarusian defense minister pointed out that together with other defense ministries the Belarusian side had started step-by-step implementation of the action plan on realizing the proposals put forward by the CSTO defense ministers during an extraordinary session of the CSTO Defense Ministers Council on 13 January 2022.
The key items on the agenda the CSTO defense ministers discussed also included a plan on consultations of the CSTO countries about foreign policy, defense, and security in 2022-2024; the joint formation of radiation, chemical, biological protection and medical support in the Collective Security Treaty Organization; measures to realize the CSTO Collective Security Council decision of 15 September 2015 on organizing control over the CSTO collective forces (troops).
The CSTO defense ministers exchanged opinions about military security in the organization's collective security regions and discussed further joint actions meant to improve the Collective Security Treaty Organization's crisis response system.
