Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)

Q What is the context  ?

A A Moscow-led military alliance called Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) dispatched troops to help quell mounting unrest in Kazakhstan.

Q What is the ongoing situation in Kazakhstan ?

A 

• Long seen as one the most stable of the ex-Soviet republics of Central Asia, energy-rich Kazakhstan is facing its biggest crisis.
• There are ongoing protests over rising fuel prices escalated into widespread unrest.
• The nationwide protests are also signifying a wider, region-wide longing for political change.
• Under increasing pressure, Kazakh President appealed to the Russia for CSTO army to be deployed in Kazakhstan.

Q What are Concerns over CTSO troop’s deployment ?

A 

• It is argued that domestic turmoil could be utilized by Russian nationalists for asserting their claims in Northern Kazakhstan.

Q What is Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)?

A 

• The CSTO is a Russia-led military alliance of seven former Soviet states that was created in 2002.
• Current CSTO members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation and Tajikistan.
• Afghanistan and Serbia hold observer status in the CSTO.
• Its purpose is to ensure the collective defence of any member that faces external aggression.

Q What are  functions of CSTO ?

 A

• Version of NATO: It has been described by political scientists as the Eurasian counterpart of NATO, which has 29 member states, while the CSTO has just six.
• Arms trade and mutual defense: CSTO supports arms sales and manufacturing as well as military training and exercises, making the CSTO the most important multilateral defence organization in the former Soviet Union.
• Non- proliferation of weapons:  CSTO also coordinates efforts in fighting the illegal circulation of weapons among member states and has developed law enforcement training for its members in pursuit of these aims.

 Q What does CSTO membership provide?

A 

• Barring relations with NATO: While CSTO membership means that member states are barred from joining other military alliances, limiting, for example, their relationship with NATO.
• Benefits in arms import from Russia: Its members receive discounts, subsidies, and other incentives to buy Russian arms, facilitating military cooperation.
• Assurance against military conquest: In the CSTO, aggression against one signatory is perceived as aggression against all. It however remains unclear whether this feature works in practice.