The new CSTO rules allow the Kremlin to quickly involve partner troops. The event should revise assessments of Russia's military power.
The Kremlin continues to implement the strategy of military and political dominance in the post-Soviet space. On June 24, the State Duma of the Russian Federation ratified the protocol of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which effectively allows Russia to take command of the troops of other CSTO member states.
This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
According to the document, member countries can send their troops to the territory of other CSTO states in the event of an armed conflict, threats, crisis situations, emergency events or for humanitarian aid. The main change is the possibility of deploying troops not 30 days after the decision of the CSTO Council, as was the case before, but the next day.
The protocol also introduces the concept of “formation command,” which will be controlled by the joint forces. Although the document does not directly indicate Russia’s dominance in this command, analysts are confident that it will be Moscow that coordinates the actions of the allied military contingents.
ISW analysts have repeatedly warned that the Kremlin is seeking to create a multinational army by restoring the formula of the Soviet military bloc. Now, with the formalization of command, these plans are gaining a real basis.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy: in the context of the war against Ukraine, Russia is actively increasing its own combat power not only through mobilization within the country, but also through its allies.
“The event should revise its assessment of Russia’s military strength, taking into account the potential for using CSTO forces in future operations,” ISW experts note.
Thus, the ratified protocol is not only a legal instrument, but also a strategic statement by the Kremlin about its ambitions in the region. The formation of an army under Russian command could significantly change the balance of power in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Let us recall that the Kremlin is intensifying military cooperation with China. In 2025, Russia will accept about 600 servicemen of the People's Liberation Army of China for training at its military facilities and training centers of the Russian Armed Forces.
Chinese military personnel will undergo training in countering Western weapons, in particular tank crews, artillerymen, engineers and air defense specialists. According to Ukrainian intelligence, this indicates Moscow and Beijing's desire for strategic rapprochement in their confrontation with the West.
It should be noted that Bloomberg previously reported on the presence of production facilities with Chinese participation in the Russian Federation.
