The summit is being held in the Palace of Independence. The host of the summit, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, greeted Aleksandr Lukashenko at the entrance. This year Kazakhstan is chairing the CSTO.
In total, five heads of the CSTO member states are taking part in the summit: presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Armenia is also a member of the CSTO, but previously Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that the country has frozen its participation in the organization.
At the summit, the leaders of the countries are set to exchange views on the international and regional situation, its impact on the security of the CSTO member states, discuss the cooperation and prospects for the further development of the collective security system. Answering BelTA's question about the absence of the Armenian delegation at the summit and the possible impact of this fact on the effectiveness of joint work, State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Aleksandr Volfovich said: “The position of the Armenian side will not hinder the work to adopt documents. It is sad that one of the CSTO members will not be at the meetings today. But I think that this will not significantly affect the event in general, as well as the adoption of the documents.”
"The CSTO has become a key structure in ensuring peace and stability across the vast expanse of Eurasia. In the face of modern challenges, the CSTO has consistently demonstrated its relevance as a security guarantor for all member states. Our coordinated actions, mutual trust and support strengthen our collective ability to solve the most difficult and large-scale tasks," President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan said during the opening ceremony of the summit.
There are about a dozen and a half items on the agenda of the summit. Following the meeting, the participants are set to adopt a declaration of the CSTO Collective Security Council.
Plans are in place to adopt the documents aimed at strengthening allied relations, increasing the combat capability of the collective forces, and improving crisis response mechanisms. The leaders of the countries are expected to approve the CSTO targeted interstate program to strengthen the Tajik-Afghan border.
The leaders of the countries will also adopt a statement in connection with the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and approve a corresponding action plan.
Some of the agenda items relate to the organizational aspects of the CSTO's work, financing of its activities. Kyrgyzstan is to take over the chairmanship of the CSTO in 2025.
“We expect that the upcoming summit to further strengthen the institutional foundations of the CSTO,” Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maksim Ryzhenkov told journalists ahead of the CSTO summit at the level of heads of state. “We keep up with the times, and the organization develops in the spirit of the times. Belarus is the most ardent supporter of this organization. We will uphold all decisions that will be submitted for discussion and signing,” he emphasized.
