"The CSTO is monitoring the processes in Europe in connection with the adjustment of the US exchange rate"

Sending European military contingents to Ukraine will create a dangerous situation in the region, the organization's Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov told Izvestia. The activity of NATO continues to cause concern — the CSTO is carefully studying the actions of the alliance in the immediate vicinity of its area of responsibility. As the Secretary General stressed, the organization retains its obligations towards the participating states, including maintaining working contacts with Yerevan. The next session of the Collective Security Council in Kyrgyzstan will be held in November. About the growing conflict potential in Eurasia — in an exclusive interview with Imangali Tasmagambetov to Izvestia.

«Proposals to reduce defense spending are still in the nature of statements"

— Against the background of the new American administration's distance from Europe, discussions about the need to acquire its own "nuclear umbrella" have intensified in a number of NATO member countries. In particular, this was stated by the likely future German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. How do the CSTO assess the discussions that French nuclear weapons, for example, may appear in Germany? Does this require a reaction from the structure?

— The CSTO is closely monitoring the processes in Europe in connection with the adjustment of the US foreign policy. However, analysts of the organization tend to consider Merz's statement as an element of election rhetoric. In addition, it is necessary to separate the strategy of European countries through NATO and initiatives in bilateral relations. Thus, contacts between Berlin and Paris are not without problems on a number of issues. The French political leadership is seeking to strengthen its position in Europe by imposing security services through its strategic nuclear forces. However, American nuclear weapons are based in Germany. Therefore, it is doubtful that the political forces in Germany will easily agree with the initiative of Paris.

Talking about the EU's "nuclear umbrella", one should recall the long-standing controversy about the creation of a European army, which never ended. Therefore, the current discussion, given the current situation in the West, hardly requires a reaction from the CSTO.

— Donald Trump proposed to reduce defense spending. Vladimir Putin generally supported the idea. How does the CSTO feel about this proposal? Are there any plans to change the defense strategy, including the amount of contributions, due to the fact that the EU will now change its strategy?

— The proposals to reduce defense spending so far are in the nature of statements, if you will, statements of intent to consider the possibility of reducing costs, and this applies only to the United States and Russia. There was no talk about the EU, and there we can observe rather the opposite trends. It will take a considerable time until these statements, if the situation permits, will be formalized in the form of agreements, at least in the form of memoranda. Only then will this become a topic for analysis, and, I repeat, in terms of bilateral relations, that is, between Washington and Moscow.

As for NATO, Washington insists on increasing member countries' defense spending to 5% of GDP, while European countries are resisting this by offering alternative solutions, most of which are not viable. Thus, we observe multidirectional vectors in security policy. And in this situation, the CSTO will not take drastic steps — there is no reason for this. The organization has its own strategy and its own plans for ensuring security in the area of responsibility. Of course, CSTO analysts are monitoring all trends in the Euro-Atlantic region, and if necessary, the organization's strategy will be adjusted. However, there are no prerequisites for this now.

"The CSTO is carefully studying the activities of NATO"

— Norway is hosting the largest Joint Viking military exercise in 2025 in March, which will involve military personnel from seven NATO countries. To what extent does the current activity of the alliance threaten the activities of the CSTO or cause concern?

— The CSTO is carefully studying the activities of NATO in the immediate vicinity of the organization's area of responsibility. However, these specific exercises do not directly threaten the activities of the structure. At the same time, the activity of NATO after the accession of Sweden and Finland cannot but cause concern, since we are talking about increasing the line of frontal contact between the areas of responsibility of the two military-political unions by 1.5 thousand km. Such concern is natural and understandable.

At the same time, as the conflict potential in Eurasia expands, the importance of each political step increases. We hope that the leadership of NATO and the key countries of the bloc, soberly assessing the risks and the situation as a whole, will make prudent decisions regarding the former Soviet countries and adhere to them.

— Europe is considering sending military contingents to Ukraine. Will this create security risks in the region? Are such a scenario and response measures being considered in the CSTO?

— This is not the first time that European capitals have discussed the possible deployment of military contingents to Ukraine. However, these contingents are still not officially present there. The reason is that this could create a dangerous situation across the region. Moreover, it is unlikely that the population of European countries, tired of the growing negative phenomena in the economy and social sphere, will approve of such a decision by their governments. After all, this will place an additional burden on the shoulders of society, even if these contingents are not involved in offensive operations, but, for example, perform police or surveillance functions.

If such risks arise, the CSTO will be ready to offer various options for assistance within the framework provided for in the organization's statutory documents and, of course, approved by all member states.

«We maintain working contacts with Yerevan"

— Has there been any recent signals from Armenia about its readiness to resume cooperation with the CSTO?

— We maintain working contacts with Yerevan. I would like to emphasize once again that the Republic of Armenia remains an ally, and the organization's obligations towards the country remain. As for the signals of readiness to resume cooperation with the CSTO, the format of relations has not changed and remains the same.

— Earlier, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov proposed holding the next session of the CSTO Collective Security Council at the end of 2025. Are we already aware of the month and the exact date of the summit?

— Yes, that's right, President of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, as Chairman of the Collective Security Council of the CSTO, made a proposal to hold the next meeting of the CSTO. Traditionally, the Council convenes annually in November. We believe that the meeting will go according to plan, but the date has not yet been determined, it will be announced later.