Uzbekistan Withdraws From Russia-Lead Military Alliance CSTO

Uzbekistan Withdraws From Russia-Lead Military Alliance -- The Telegraph

Uzbekistan has withdrawn from a Russia-lead military alliance of former Soviet states, triggering a wave of speculation that it wants closer ties with the US.

Strategically located on the southern fringe of Central Asia, Uzbekistan is an important but controversial partner for the West, which needs its support to withdraw military kit from neighbouring Afghanistan from 2014.

The Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) didn’t give any official reasons for Uzbekistan’s withdrawal from the alliance when it announced the news in Moscow last Thursday but analysts and commentators were quick to describe it as a move towards the US.

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Update: Tashkent deserts CSTO - again -- Asia Times

My Comment: Uzbekistan has always had an independent streak .... playing both sides when it is convenient for them.

'Russian NATO' Holds 1st Exercise

From Defense News:

MATYBULAK, Kazakhstan - The presidents of five ex-Soviet states viewed military drills by thousands of troops in Kazakhstan as the Russian-led security grouping unveiled its new rapid reaction force Oct. 16.

Moscow hopes the new forces will lend teeth to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a loose seven-nation grouping it has touted as a counterweight to the NATO alliance but which is plagued by internal tensions.

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More News On CSTO's Military Exercises

Russia flexes muscles with Central Asian war games -- Reuters
'Russian NATO' kicks off military manoeuvres -- AFP
Leaders of ex-Soviet states inspect Central Asian military drills -- RIA Novosti
CSTO is still far away from NATO: Azerbaijani MP -- Today.Az
Medvedev supervising CSTO Collective Rapid Reaction Forces drill -- Irar Tass
Russia leads war games for central Asian allies -- Financial Times

The Partial Reconstitution Of The Old Soviet Military Alliance

Post-Soviet States To Hold Military Drills In Kazakhstan -- RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, October 1 (RIA Novosti) - Over 7,000 service personnel from member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will take part in large-scale regional security drills in Kazakhstan, the Russian military said on Thursday.

The exercise of the CSTO collective rapid reaction force will be held at Kazakhstan's Matybulak training grounds on October 2-15, and involve units from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

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Update: New post-Soviet force begins military exercises -- AP

My Comment: Russia is reconstituting its former Soviet military alliance. I expect this military exercise to be one of many in the next few years.

Ex-Soviet States Meet For 'Russian NATO' Summit

The Collective Security Treaty Organization is holding a meeting in Kyrgyzstan starting Friday. Map by moscwotopsnews.com

From AFP:

CHOLPON-ATA, Kyrgyzstan (AFP) – The presidents of seven ex-Soviet states ended a summit Friday of a Russia-led security grouping touted as an eastern counterweight to NATO but riven by disagreements.

The leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) sought at a lakeside resort in Kyrgyzstan to smooth out differences over a June 14 deal to establish the group's first joint rapid reaction force.

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My Comment: The CSTO is just a shadow of the former Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact.

More News On The CSTO Summit

CSTO Leaders Gather For Informal Summit -- Radio Free Europe
Russia, Kyrgyzstan to sign base deal: official -- China Daily
Russia wants second base in Kyrgyzstan -- AP
Former Soviet Republics Expected to Form Joint Rapid Reaction Forces -- Novinite