Belarus will preside over CSTO this yea

Belarus is chairing the Collective Security Treaty Organization this year. The military-political alliance of six states is designed to counter modern threats, and there have been more and more of them lately. Almost every year is a serious test for the bloc participants.

Therefore, the presidency of our country in the current geopolitical situation is a special responsibility in strengthening the CSTO. Belarus has always been efficient in unlocking the potential of the organization, allowing it to become more and more serious tool for ensuring regional security.

In 2023, Belarus will take over presidency in the CSTO. It will be a busy year for the organization. In difficult geopolitical circumstances, including the situation in Ukraine, the military-political bloc must show its most effective sides. There are fears that the West will try to ignite military conflicts in the CSTO area of responsibility. Therefore, the work to be done is not only intense, but also delicate.

The President has outlined some priorities. The CSTO should focus on training joint groupings, equipping the Collective Rapid Response Force and our peacekeeping forces, and creating a positive image of the organization itself. In 2023, it is planned to conduct a series of exercises on the western borders. This can be seen as a measure of strategic deterrence.

For us, the military component of the CSTO is one of the main strategies for organizing the security belt and preserving peace. The example of the organization's work in Kazakhstan has shown that the bloc can work very quickly and effectively if the country needs help to stabilize the situation. Our country has always been at the forefront of the CSTO, and our initiatives have strengthened solidarity among the member countries of the bloc. This tendency will obviously continue in 2023.