Seven nations form CSTO

Russia and six former Soviet states are teaming up to create joint rapid-response military forces, aiming for a capability similar to the combat units utilized by NATO. Authorities in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, and Belarus have embraced Moscow's initiative, signing off on the framework for the "Collective Rapid Reaction Forces," or CSTO. This formation was finalized during a CSTO summit held this Wednesday in Moscow.

Only on paper
– For now, the CSTO principle exists mostly on paper, but it needs to become a reality very soon – stated Dmitry Medvedev. He emphasized that these newly structured forces shouldn't be any less capable than their counterparts in NATO. According to Lenta, some observers view this military alignment among seven former USSR nations as the creation of an Eurasian counterweight to NATO.

The Russian government isn't looking to foster antagonism with the world's most powerful military alliance, pointing out that the CSTO remains open to cooperation with NATO. Currently, the CSTO is intended to handle repelling military aggression, conducting counter-terrorism operations, fighting organized crime and smuggling, and providing disaster relief. The force is expected to consist of roughly 10,000 soldiers under a central command based in Russia.

Each of the six member nations will contribute one battalion, while Russia plans to integrate its largest contingent, consisting of one airborne division and one air-assault infantry division.

NATO shifts focus
Russia's Channel One reports that some CSTO units might be stationed at the Manas airbase in Kyrgyzstan. That facility is currently being used by NATO forces operating in neighboring Afghanistan, serving as a vital hub in the fight against the Taliban. However, the President and Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan have announced that NATO will be moving out of the base.

Chris Price2 said:Russia and six former Soviet states are teaming up to create joint rapid-response military forces, aiming for a capability similar to the combat units utilized by NATO. Authorities in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, and Belarus have embraced Moscow's initiative, signing off on the framework for the "Collective Rapid Reaction Forces," or CSTO. This formation was finalized during a CSTO summit held this Wednesday in Moscow.

Only on paper
– For now, the CSTO principle exists mostly on paper, but it needs to become a reality very soon – stated Dmitry Medvedev. He emphasized that these newly structured forces shouldn't be any less capable than their counterparts in NATO. According to Lenta, some observers view this military alignment among seven former USSR nations as the creation of an Eurasian counterweight to NATO.

The Russian government isn't looking to foster antagonism with the world's most powerful military alliance, pointing out that the CSTO remains open to cooperation with NATO. Currently, the CSTO is intended to handle repelling military aggression, conducting counter-terrorism operations, fighting organized crime and smuggling, and providing disaster relief. The force is expected to consist of roughly 10,000 soldiers under a central command based in Russia.

Each of the six member nations will contribute one battalion, while Russia plans to integrate its largest contingent, consisting of one airborne division and one air-assault infantry division.

NATO shifts focus
Russia's Channel One reports that some CSTO units might be stationed at the Manas airbase in Kyrgyzstan. That facility is currently being used by NATO forces operating in neighboring Afghanistan, serving as a vital hub in the fight against the Taliban. However, the President and Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan have announced that NATO will be moving out of the base.

So what? You got anything to say about this?
Here's my take. In theory, building these kinds of blocs is bad news because it just drags us toward a new Cold War. But in practice... since the alliance formed to counter the old USSR never actually went away and just kept expanding into the former Soviet states, I'm not surprised they're making moves like this. Claiming that alliance survived just because of threats from some third-rate Islamic countries sounds pretty naive to me...

The empire of evil is making a comeback.

Maria Booth said:The empire of evil is making a comeback.

You're reading too much Lord of the Rings... you think there's actual Mordor vs good old Gondor and Rohan out there. It doesn't work like that. It's just different countries and groups thinking they're the good guys and everyone else is evil. It's all just perception... nothing more.

hollowgardener912 said:So what? You got anything to say about this?
Here's my take. In theory, building these kinds of blocs is bad news because it just drags us toward a new Cold War. But in practice... since the alliance formed to counter the old USSR never actually went away and just kept expanding into the former Soviet states, I'm not surprised they're making moves like this. Claiming that alliance survived just because of threats from some third-rate Islamic countries sounds pretty naive to me...

Look, let’s be real—the whole NATO expansion thing has absolutely zero to do with Islamic states or any of that made-up terrorism nonsense. It’s just a distraction, really. At the end of the day, whether you're looking at the top brass or the boots on the ground, the USA and Russia are the only ones truly calling the shots here—they're the main focus and the absolute priority above everything else. And honestly? That's not changing anytime soon—not in our lifetime, anyway.

I actually touched on this a bit back when I was posting in that thread about how Ukraine is basically the linchpin for the whole global order—you know, since the USA is so incredibly eager to get them tucked into NATO, much like they want to do with Georgia. Though, honestly, getting Georgia in is gonna be a much tougher climb—it's a whole different ballgame because they haven't quite managed to reclaim their full territorial integrity yet, and you can't really qualify for a military alliance like that if your borders are still up in the air.

Look, if you take all those former Soviet states—and let's be real, I’m not even counting the three Baltic republics because they’re basically already firmly planted in the Western camp by every metric imaginable—US strategists are only ever looking at them through one specific lens. It's all about encircling Russia. The whole goal seems to be creating this scenario where they can box Russia in, essentially shrinking them down to just their own borders. We're talking about stripping away any ability to run a foreign policy or exert influence, and honestly, making it impossible for them to even define national interests outside their own backyard. If that actually played out—and for the last 15 years or so, it really did look like it was heading that way—Russia would eventually just disarm itself. They’d finally have to buckle under the sheer weight and status of the USA.

So, look—once Vladimir Putin took the reins, everything just started shifting. You’ve got energy prices climbing, industrial production getting that second wind, and a massive surge in influence over the EU's energy sector. Plus, he basically breathed life back into a military that was looking pretty demoralized for a while. Between the rising living standards and those super efficient moves in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Russia has really managed to flip the script on a few major trends. They’ve basically brought Kazakhstan under their wing, too. And Uzbekistan—which is such a massive player in Central Asia—really shook off NATO back in 2005. If I remember correctly, those guys only have rights to supply fuel at one specific Uzbek base now. Then you’ve got Tajikistan, which is leaning heavily toward being pro-Russian, and Kyrgyzstan is also effectively shutting NATO out of their bases. The only wild card left is Turkmenistan. It’s one of the most closed-off places on the planet, and they're acting pretty hesitant—but not because they're cozy with NATO, more like because nobody actually knows what their leadership is planning next. Honestly, it feels like the Russians just swooped in and dismantled years of painstaking groundwork the Americans had been trying to lay across Central Asia. It’s pretty clear that the militaries in these countries are now looking to Moscow for a place to land and some real support.

It’s all just basic logic, really—Russia is playing the long game here, moving piece by piece to pull everyone back into their orbit. You’ve already got Belarus and Armenia in the mix, and now you see Azerbaijan flirting with the Americans over energy deals, even though they're still dealing with that whole mess in Nagorno-Karabakh being held by pro-Russian Armenia. It's all connected, I swear. Then you’ve got the wildcards like Georgia and Ukraine. Honestly, Georgia is basically a done deal at this point since NATO membership is off the table for them anyway—plus, they're starting to realize that Russia isn't exactly the enemy, but more like the one who pushed them into a fight with a neighbor they've actually coexisted with for centuries while building their own identity. It’s kind of crazy when you think about it! And then there’s Ukraine—the absolute linchpin of everything. But even there, you can see things shifting, and let me tell you, Moscow isn't going to let that country slip into some unnatural alliance no matter what it takes. Oh, and I almost forgot Moldova! Man, that place is so weighed down by drama and issues that it's hard to imagine them pivoting anywhere else anytime soon. At least for now, anyway.

I mean, people love to ask, "Why won't Russia just let this happen?" Like, who are they to decide? That’s just how the world works—big players have national interests that reach way beyond their own borders. And look, unlike the USA, which basically views its own interests as applying to the entire planet, Russia mostly just wants to push its agenda within the old USSR territory—minus the three Baltic states, obviously—and that's that. Nobody can really stop them from doing that. Plus, it’s not like Russia was making military threats against Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan just to get them to turn away NATO. These Central Asian republics realized pretty quickly that Russia is their natural ally, and honestly, they thrive best through that kind of symbiosis. They’ve all established their own national identities, brought back their native languages, and there’s zero fear of any sort of Russification happening. It’s all about interests here—interests that matter deeply to the Central Asian nations, the Caucasus, Belarus, Ukraine, and maybe even Moldova, which definitely wants to stay on good terms and in an alliance with Russia.

This military alliance isn't going to be fully operational overnight, but man, the message it sends is huge. Bit by bit, especially with energy prices climbing and all this tech regeneration, Russia and its backyard are going to become a massive global player again.

Nancy Wood6 said:Look, let’s be real—the whole NATO expansion thing has absolutely zero to do with Islamic states or any of that made-up terrorism nonsense. It’s just a distraction, really. At the end of the day, whether you're looking at the top brass or the boots on the ground, the USA and Russia are the only ones truly calling the shots here—they're the main focus and the absolute priority above everything else. And honestly? That's not changing anytime soon—not in our lifetime, anyway.

I actually touched on this a bit back when I was posting in that thread about how Ukraine is basically the linchpin for the whole global order—you know, since the USA is so incredibly eager to get them tucked into NATO, much like they want to do with Georgia. Though, honestly, getting Georgia in is gonna be a much tougher climb—it's a whole different ballgame because they haven't quite managed to reclaim their full territorial integrity yet, and you can't really qualify for a military alliance like that if your borders are still up in the air.

Look, if you take all those former Soviet states—and let's be real, I’m not even counting the three Baltic republics because they’re basically already firmly planted in the Western camp by every metric imaginable—US strategists are only ever looking at them through one specific lens. It's all about encircling Russia. The whole goal seems to be creating this scenario where they can box Russia in, essentially shrinking them down to just their own borders. We're talking about stripping away any ability to run a foreign policy or exert influence, and honestly, making it impossible for them to even define national interests outside their own backyard. If that actually played out—and for the last 15 years or so, it really did look like it was heading that way—Russia would eventually just disarm itself. They’d finally have to buckle under the sheer weight and status of the USA.

So, look—once Vladimir Putin took the reins, everything just started shifting. You’ve got energy prices climbing, industrial production getting that second wind, and a massive surge in influence over the EU's energy sector. Plus, he basically breathed life back into a military that was looking pretty demoralized for a while. Between the rising living standards and those super efficient moves in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Russia has really managed to flip the script on a few major trends. They’ve basically brought Kazakhstan under their wing, too. And Uzbekistan—which is such a massive player in Central Asia—really shook off NATO back in 2005. If I remember correctly, those guys only have rights to supply fuel at one specific Uzbek base now. Then you’ve got Tajikistan, which is leaning heavily toward being pro-Russian, and Kyrgyzstan is also effectively shutting NATO out of their bases. The only wild card left is Turkmenistan. It’s one of the most closed-off places on the planet, and they're acting pretty hesitant—but not because they're cozy with NATO, more like because nobody actually knows what their leadership is planning next. Honestly, it feels like the Russians just swooped in and dismantled years of painstaking groundwork the Americans had been trying to lay across Central Asia. It’s pretty clear that the militaries in these countries are now looking to Moscow for a place to land and some real support.

It’s all just basic logic, really—Russia is playing the long game here, moving piece by piece to pull everyone back into their orbit. You’ve already got Belarus and Armenia in the mix, and now you see Azerbaijan flirting with the Americans over energy deals, even though they're still dealing with that whole mess in Nagorno-Karabakh being held by pro-Russian Armenia. It's all connected, I swear. Then you’ve got the wildcards like Georgia and Ukraine. Honestly, Georgia is basically a done deal at this point since NATO membership is off the table for them anyway—plus, they're starting to realize that Russia isn't exactly the enemy, but more like the one who pushed them into a fight with a neighbor they've actually coexisted with for centuries while building their own identity. It’s kind of crazy when you think about it! And then there’s Ukraine—the absolute linchpin of everything. But even there, you can see things shifting, and let me tell you, Moscow isn't going to let that country slip into some unnatural alliance no matter what it takes. Oh, and I almost forgot Moldova! Man, that place is so weighed down by drama and issues that it's hard to imagine them pivoting anywhere else anytime soon. At least for now, anyway.

I mean, people love to ask, "Why won't Russia just let this happen?" Like, who are they to decide? That’s just how the world works—big players have national interests that reach way beyond their own borders. And look, unlike the USA, which basically views its own interests as applying to the entire planet, Russia mostly just wants to push its agenda within the old USSR territory—minus the three Baltic states, obviously—and that's that. Nobody can really stop them from doing that. Plus, it’s not like Russia was making military threats against Uzbekistan or Kyrgyzstan just to get them to turn away NATO. These Central Asian republics realized pretty quickly that Russia is their natural ally, and honestly, they thrive best through that kind of symbiosis. They’ve all established their own national identities, brought back their native languages, and there’s zero fear of any sort of Russification happening. It’s all about interests here—interests that matter deeply to the Central Asian nations, the Caucasus, Belarus, Ukraine, and maybe even Moldova, which definitely wants to stay on good terms and in an alliance with Russia.

This military alliance isn't going to be fully operational overnight, but man, the message it sends is huge. Bit by bit, especially with energy prices climbing and all this tech regeneration, Russia and its backyard are going to become a massive global player again.

I’m with most of what’s being said here. I just don't see Azerbaijan or Moldova jumping into an alliance with the Russians unless they have control over Nagorno-Karabakh or Transnistria first. Also, yeah, Ukraine is the big one—not just because of its size or Crimea, but because there's a real risk of civil war breaking out thanks to Yuschenko's insane anti-Russia policies. Things could get ugly if they keep pushing NATO on a population that doesn't want it... If I remember right, we saw similar attempts by anti-Russia factions in Belarus back in the early nineties, which ended up with Lukashenko taking charge...
Also, smart move by Putin to ditch those old, dusty USSR imperialist doctrines for more sophisticated ways to expand his influence. That’s probably why the Central Asian countries are turning back to Russia...

Let’s take a moment to look at this through an energy lens—specifically regarding the massive natural resources these member nations hold in their hands.
Doesn't it feel like we're witnessing the birth of a brand-new oil, gas, and military cartel? One that’s poised to dictate global energy prices for years to come.
The role of NATO here seems to be nothing more than securing those resources and protecting the bottom line.
Am I wrong?

It’s no secret that the West consumes nearly two-thirds of the world's total energy production, which leaves us incredibly vulnerable to whatever happens in the East.
Now, the East is essentially "setting the rules" to ensure they get much better market rates for their exports.
As Chris Price2 mentioned over on the other forum, the era where the West could simply reach out and grab cheap energy from the East seems to have... well, reached its expiration date.

How the West will manage—or even if it can—to successfully transition to alternative energy sources remains a massive question mark, especially given how deeply hooked we are on Eastern supplies.
We all know that energy independence is the bedrock of any stable economy and a strong currency.

In fact, isn't the current recession in the West a direct result of this energy imbalance? It started by hitting the housing market, then bled into the insurance companies covering those homes, and finally crippled the banks that were backing those insurers.
It’s a textbook domino effect.
How far this goes, and when it finally stops... (God forbid it leads to a world war)

Maria Booth said:The empire of evil is making a comeback.

Feels a lot like the French Foreign Legion—just troops meant to prop up puppet regimes across those six states...☕

Brenda Ross47 said:Feels a lot like the French Foreign Legion—just troops meant to prop up puppet regimes across those six states...☕

What kind of "pro-Russia regimes" are you even talking about here? Do you seriously think the top brass in places like Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan are just total idiots for teaming up with Russia? Like, do you honestly believe they haven't already tried to cut a deal with the West—especially the USA?

Look, obviously these leaders aren't stupid. They definitely tried looking for greener pastures elsewhere, but they didn't find any lush meadows out there—instead, they realized that some moves just make perfect sense for the stability of their own people and their nations.

It totally makes sense that this cluster of states around Russia is pulling together again—they're all linked up because, honestly, it's just logical when you look at how close they are, the trade routes, the markets, how compatible their manufacturing is, plus historical ties and shared interests... I could go on forever, really.

We aren't talking about "pro-Russia" zealots jumping into this—we're talking about people making sober, calculated decisions. They don't need empty promises or some distant dream of hitting Las Vegas. You can't live off dreams, but you can definitely thrive through synergy with Russia. And honestly, the whole fear of "Russification" or losing their identity—whether it's Kazakh, Uzbek, Tajik, or whatever—is pretty much a non-issue now. They established who they are during the post-Soviet years, and now they're just solidifying ties for mutual benefit. Plus, you've got the military aspect, which is a standard part of any powerful alliance. It's funny, though—whenever Russia and its military come up, everyone acts like it's a massive problem, but when other countries have armies, national interests, and military alliances, suddenly it's perfectly fine. But no, it won't go 😁!

Brenda Ross47 said:Feels a lot like the French Foreign Legion—just troops meant to prop up puppet regimes across those six states...☕

And now, they've become nothing more than puppet governments 😂

Maria Booth said:The empire of evil is making a comeback.

Let's try not to be one-sided here, okay?

Most of today's villains actually emerge from their own rivals—isn't that just how it goes?

I certainly wouldn't mind seeing an alliance rise up to balance out those NATO colonialists.

Russia is basically just defending itself against the massive NATO buildup over in Afghanistan.
Maybe we’ll actually see some tension ease up between the two sides since current US policy seems more focused on building diplomatic bridges with anyone it's actually feasible to talk to—like Iran or Russia—rather than just obsessively pushing for influence everywhere.

Besides, it’s probably better for places like Georgia or Ukraine to just play nice with their neighbor instead of making life difficult for themselves (and the rest of us) by trying to plant NATO right on Russia's doorstep.

Perhaps we should consider this perspective alongside recent commentary:

A New Global Political Map – Is China, India, or Brazil Taking the Lead?
Warren Buffett shares a similar sentiment, presenting his views to the Council of Economic Advisers—an advisory group helping the Federal Government navigate current crises. From his standpoint, we are witnessing the collapse of a global system established back in 1944. The World Bank and the IMF simply aren't built to handle today's reality; the entire structure needs a total overhaul. It’s becoming clear that the USA is no longer the sole economic superpower, nor is Japan—which is currently struggling—and all of Europe is facing its own crisis too. Historically, international financial institutions relied on those major powers to support developing nations, but according to Buffett, the script has completely flipped.

Read more here:

It makes sense, really. If that's the case, it's logical that the East would start banding together around the most vital resource: ENERGY.
Without energy, everything grinds to a halt—including our economy & military.

If this newly formed alliance ever finds itself needing settlers to fill up all that empty wasteland, I’ve got a brilliant idea. Given how perfectly their brand of political "wisdom" aligns, I know exactly who we should send over there...😉

Nicholas Rivera3 said:Russia is basically just defending itself against the massive NATO buildup over in Afghanistan.
Maybe we’ll actually see some tension ease up between the two sides since current US policy seems more focused on building diplomatic bridges with anyone it's actually feasible to talk to—like Iran or Russia—rather than just obsessively pushing for influence everywhere.

Besides, it’s probably better for places like Georgia or Ukraine to just play nice with their neighbor instead of making life difficult for themselves (and the rest of us) by trying to plant NATO right on Russia's doorstep.

👍 Yeah, I mean, why play with fire when you can just work together?
At the end of the day, constant cooperation is what built everything—it's the literal foundation and evolution of every civilization in history.☕

Maria Booth said:The empire of evil is making a comeback.

Those countries haven't even stopped being Soviet satellites yet...

I really wonder if the Baltic states would actually step up...

Nah, definitely not...

Richard Wilson4 said:Those countries haven't even stopped being Soviet satellites yet...

I really wonder if the Baltic states would actually step up...

Nah, definitely not...

Don't you ever say "never"... who knows, maybe next winter when things get dicey—like if they run low on gas or oil, for instance. 😉

Richard Wilson4 said:Those countries haven't even stopped being Soviet satellites yet...

I really wonder if the Baltic states would actually step up...

Nah, definitely not...

Look, if you actually understood how much those places flourished during the Soviet Union era—we're talking infrastructure, education, medicine, science—stuff they could never have achieved on their own, you might not be so surprised. It makes sense why most people from those former Soviet Socialist Republics supported its survival back then, and honestly, many today are still quite nostalgic for it. Things weren't all just "black and white" within the "evil empire." It’s pretty logical that after they recovered from the collapse of the USSR, which basically wrecked the economy and everything else, they started banding together again. They realized they're stronger together, reducing the chance of conflict through cooperation. Plus, Russia would essentially play a role similar to the USA in NATO, or like Germany in the EU, providing that kind of military and economic security.

http://amac.americans-amac.com/index.ph...808&Itemid=192

In times like these—when it feels like the USA is practically pulling itself apart at the seams—you really have to admit that every political door is wide open, even the ones leading toward the absolute worst kinds of outcomes.