Political will and speed: Lukashenko outlines priorities for strengthening CSTO
11.11.2026
MOSCOW (
BelTA) – During the restricted-format meeting of the CSTO Collective Security Council in Moscow on 11 November, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko outlined the priorities for strengthening the organization, BelTA has learned.
“Time urgently demands that we strengthen cooperation within the organization. Coordination of actions, understanding, and support – this is the only way the CSTO will remain cohesive and work for the benefit of its member states. We have everything we need for this: knowledge, necessary resources, tools, and infrastructure. We just need to add a bit more political will and speed in implementing the decisions made,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.
On the expediency of strengthening the CSTO's military potential
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “We deem it advisable to step up efforts to strengthen the CSTO’s military potential.” This is why he backed the decisions submitted for consideration of the summit’s participants and concerning mobile air defense units for the sake of enabling the operation of the CSTO troops as well as the decisions on improving the Collective Aviation Forces.
“It is an example of the fact that we should constantly adapt the military mechanisms for ensuring collective security that we have developed to the realities of today. We need to take into account the experience of modern armed conflicts, primarily in the context of using unmanned aerial vehicles and effectively counteracting them (this is even more important),” the Belarusian head of state is convinced.
On countering international terrorism and extremism
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “This year has demonstrated a substantial transformation of terrorist activity. At the same time, an entire state has essentially become its subject while terrorism has become the primary instrument for resolving political issues in bilateral relations. Strikes against energy infrastructure and civilian infrastructure are being systematically practiced: energy facilities, logistics complexes, data centers, motor vehicles, and tourist facilities.”
This is why the Belarusian head of state mentioned the timely adoption of the CSTO Anti-Terrorism Strategy through 2030. Taking into account the influence of social networks and IT technologies, new approaches are needed for the sake of preventing the spread of international terrorism and extremism. “In this matter it is necessary to step up the CSTO’s interaction with the SCO and the CIS by leveraging the strengths and professional competences of each organization,” he stressed.
On the unacceptability of remaining on the sidelines of technological processes
“Our Western opponents say, not without reason, that ‘it is cheaper to mobilize algorithms than mobilize armies’. That’s a quote. There is a fundamental shift in the nature of military conflicts, from classical combat operations to asymmetric, low-cost instruments of influence,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“Targeted cyberattacks, bot armies, the use of proxy hacker groups, and the generation of fakes are incomparably cheaper than strategic bombers and cruise missiles, yet they can cause serious damage,” he stated. The Belarusian head of state is convinced that all of this is aimed at the internal subversion of the state, which is no less dangerous for the people than military aggression.
The Belarusian leader expressed confidence that the CSTO must not remain on the sidelines of modern technological processes, especially when it comes to sovereignty and national security. “Artificial intelligence is in the same category. We just shouldn’t exaggerate it – first of all, we need to understand it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko added.
On strengthening the parliamentary, information, and analytical capabilities of the CSTO
Aleksandr Lukashenko also drew attention to the need to strengthen the parliamentary dimension for the sake of the CSTO’s further development as a full-fledged international organization in the security sphere. The work began at the Minsk session of the CSTO Collective Security Council in 2006.
“A few words about the CSTO Secretariat. In 2027 an information and analysis office will start working as part of the Secretariat. For this reason we expect substantial progress in strengthening this component of the organization’s work. The better informed we are, the stronger we are,” the Belarusian leader is convinced.
On the danger of further militarization of Western nations
“We, especially Belarus and Russia, are accused of preparing for war by 2030 and being ready to fight NATO and the entire European Union. There is nothing of the sort in Belarus and Russia. We have said this several times already,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “On the contrary, we see significant spending by Europeans on so-called security – the question is, against whom?”
As one example, the head of state pointed to the engineering of borders and border territories by Poland and the Baltic states. Around $15 billion has been allocated for these purposes.
“The danger is that troops and special forces are being trained near our borders, and the danger lies in the ongoing militarization of Western countries. Hundreds of billions of dollars are being spent on arms procurement,” he stated. “It is clear that we are not the ones expecting to fight; rather, it is those who are buying these weapons. Unfortunately, spending on war is rising.”
The president also noted that the protests taking place across Europe are a cause for concern. He pointed out that European leaders might use military escalation to resolve these internal issues. “It has often happened in history: to escape such a domestic situation, authorities have resorted to more dangerous measures, particularly military escalation regarding Ukraine, or creating new flashpoints. They do this to defuse the situation and show their population who is to blame. They point fingers at us, which is why we are forced to and must react,” he concluded.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “Unfortunately, there are many interstate contradictions and conflicts in the world today. This is why we welcome efforts to settle the conflict in Ukraine and the flexible position that the president of Russia and the country’s leadership take in these negotiations.”
On the essence of the European ‘anti-hybrid’ system and challenges posed by Western policy
The Belarusian leader drew attention to the so-called hybrid challenges and threats in the context of the West’s policy: “Look at how our western neighbors have broadened the notion of a ‘hybrid threat’. They have included illegal migration and smuggling in it. By the way, they are the ones primarily involved in them.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that despite all the declarations about their defensive nature, the pan-European “anti-hybrid” system often goes beyond the European Union’s territory, carrying out subversive work in third countries.
“An example is the European Union’s task forces for combating hybrid threats that are deployed ahead of important election campaigns in a number of post-Soviet states. Allegedly for the sake of ‘counteracting foreign interference’. It is an interesting turn of events: interference for the sake of counteracting interference,” he remarked.
On the importance of concrete steps to boost efficiency, not only within the CSTO
Concluding his speech, the Belarusian head of state addressed several problematic issues in the work of not only the CSTO, but also other integration blocs.
“We have somehow fallen into a routine in our work across all our alliances, both economic and especially military-political, which is unacceptable in the current situation. We need to review all the decisions that have been made and take our agenda more seriously,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.
The Belarusian leader pointed out that around two dozen documents had been submitted to the current CSTO summit. “Let’s be frank: do we really delve into every single issue there? Yes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reviewed them, the Ministry of Defense, and so on. But it would be preferable for the agenda to focus on key issues that affect the destinies of our states,” he emphasized. “So that Tajikistan, which faces issues on its border, can see itself there – how this problem will be resolved. If Russia and we have problems in the west, so that the Russians and we can see a return. Or at least a planned return, heaven forbid any conflicts arise. So that Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan can see some benefit from the work of this organization.”
“To ensure that everyone feels they can lean on the shoulder of a partner or friend, we must move forward and not relax,” the Belarusian head of state said. “We need to take concrete steps. If these steps are not taken, we will just keep gathering like this, talk, look at each other, but we must collectively plan something that will interest all our states.”
The president noted that similar approaches should be applied to other organizations as well – for instance, the Eurasian Economic Union. “The economy is the foundation of our military-political bloc as well. There, too, we need to delve into the details, plan, and seriously address these problems so that if a conflict arises, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Russia, Tajikistan, or Kyrgyzstan are not left to face it all alone,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.
“We must not relax and think: things are quiet and peaceful here, we are strong and we will react. Quite unexpectedly, just as happened in Belarus or Kazakhstan, these problems will arise, and we will find ourselves reacting on the spur of the moment,” the Belarusian head of state added. “Our adversaries must know in advance that we will not allow the situation inside our states to be destabilized in violation of the Constitution of any given nation. This is one of the most important tasks. We will ensure stability from within our organization. I am not even talking about ensuring our security from the outside. This is extremely important.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for organizing the CSTO summit in Moscow: “I know there are always plenty of problems and concerns when organizing any event, so I express my gratitude to you on behalf of the Belarusian delegation.”
He also expressed his gratitude to CSTO Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov for participating in the 4th Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security. “As far as I know from the feedback, the conference was a success: it was efficient, quick, and successful,” the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also pointed to the International Collective Security Forum taking place in Moscow. “An exchange of views is underway among the participants of this conference, who belong to the elite of their respective states. This is also important for us today,” he added.
“I want to wish President Emomali Sharipovich [Rahmon] of Tajikistan a successful chairmanship in the organization’s anniversary year of 2027. I am confident that we will all come together to the beautiful city of Dushanbe and take part in our meeting,” the Belarusian leader concluded.
“Time urgently demands that we strengthen cooperation within the organization. Coordination of actions, understanding, and support – this is the only way the CSTO will remain cohesive and work for the benefit of its member states. We have everything we need for this: knowledge, necessary resources, tools, and infrastructure. We just need to add a bit more political will and speed in implementing the decisions made,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.
On the expediency of strengthening the CSTO's military potential
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “We deem it advisable to step up efforts to strengthen the CSTO’s military potential.” This is why he backed the decisions submitted for consideration of the summit’s participants and concerning mobile air defense units for the sake of enabling the operation of the CSTO troops as well as the decisions on improving the Collective Aviation Forces.
“It is an example of the fact that we should constantly adapt the military mechanisms for ensuring collective security that we have developed to the realities of today. We need to take into account the experience of modern armed conflicts, primarily in the context of using unmanned aerial vehicles and effectively counteracting them (this is even more important),” the Belarusian head of state is convinced.
On countering international terrorism and extremism
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “This year has demonstrated a substantial transformation of terrorist activity. At the same time, an entire state has essentially become its subject while terrorism has become the primary instrument for resolving political issues in bilateral relations. Strikes against energy infrastructure and civilian infrastructure are being systematically practiced: energy facilities, logistics complexes, data centers, motor vehicles, and tourist facilities.”
This is why the Belarusian head of state mentioned the timely adoption of the CSTO Anti-Terrorism Strategy through 2030. Taking into account the influence of social networks and IT technologies, new approaches are needed for the sake of preventing the spread of international terrorism and extremism. “In this matter it is necessary to step up the CSTO’s interaction with the SCO and the CIS by leveraging the strengths and professional competences of each organization,” he stressed.
On the unacceptability of remaining on the sidelines of technological processes
“Our Western opponents say, not without reason, that ‘it is cheaper to mobilize algorithms than mobilize armies’. That’s a quote. There is a fundamental shift in the nature of military conflicts, from classical combat operations to asymmetric, low-cost instruments of influence,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“Targeted cyberattacks, bot armies, the use of proxy hacker groups, and the generation of fakes are incomparably cheaper than strategic bombers and cruise missiles, yet they can cause serious damage,” he stated. The Belarusian head of state is convinced that all of this is aimed at the internal subversion of the state, which is no less dangerous for the people than military aggression.
The Belarusian leader expressed confidence that the CSTO must not remain on the sidelines of modern technological processes, especially when it comes to sovereignty and national security. “Artificial intelligence is in the same category. We just shouldn’t exaggerate it – first of all, we need to understand it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko added.
On strengthening the parliamentary, information, and analytical capabilities of the CSTO
Aleksandr Lukashenko also drew attention to the need to strengthen the parliamentary dimension for the sake of the CSTO’s further development as a full-fledged international organization in the security sphere. The work began at the Minsk session of the CSTO Collective Security Council in 2006.
“A few words about the CSTO Secretariat. In 2027 an information and analysis office will start working as part of the Secretariat. For this reason we expect substantial progress in strengthening this component of the organization’s work. The better informed we are, the stronger we are,” the Belarusian leader is convinced.
On the danger of further militarization of Western nations
“We, especially Belarus and Russia, are accused of preparing for war by 2030 and being ready to fight NATO and the entire European Union. There is nothing of the sort in Belarus and Russia. We have said this several times already,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “On the contrary, we see significant spending by Europeans on so-called security – the question is, against whom?”
As one example, the head of state pointed to the engineering of borders and border territories by Poland and the Baltic states. Around $15 billion has been allocated for these purposes.
“The danger is that troops and special forces are being trained near our borders, and the danger lies in the ongoing militarization of Western countries. Hundreds of billions of dollars are being spent on arms procurement,” he stated. “It is clear that we are not the ones expecting to fight; rather, it is those who are buying these weapons. Unfortunately, spending on war is rising.”
The president also noted that the protests taking place across Europe are a cause for concern. He pointed out that European leaders might use military escalation to resolve these internal issues. “It has often happened in history: to escape such a domestic situation, authorities have resorted to more dangerous measures, particularly military escalation regarding Ukraine, or creating new flashpoints. They do this to defuse the situation and show their population who is to blame. They point fingers at us, which is why we are forced to and must react,” he concluded.
Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “Unfortunately, there are many interstate contradictions and conflicts in the world today. This is why we welcome efforts to settle the conflict in Ukraine and the flexible position that the president of Russia and the country’s leadership take in these negotiations.”
On the essence of the European ‘anti-hybrid’ system and challenges posed by Western policy
The Belarusian leader drew attention to the so-called hybrid challenges and threats in the context of the West’s policy: “Look at how our western neighbors have broadened the notion of a ‘hybrid threat’. They have included illegal migration and smuggling in it. By the way, they are the ones primarily involved in them.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that despite all the declarations about their defensive nature, the pan-European “anti-hybrid” system often goes beyond the European Union’s territory, carrying out subversive work in third countries.
“An example is the European Union’s task forces for combating hybrid threats that are deployed ahead of important election campaigns in a number of post-Soviet states. Allegedly for the sake of ‘counteracting foreign interference’. It is an interesting turn of events: interference for the sake of counteracting interference,” he remarked.
On the importance of concrete steps to boost efficiency, not only within the CSTO
Concluding his speech, the Belarusian head of state addressed several problematic issues in the work of not only the CSTO, but also other integration blocs.
“We have somehow fallen into a routine in our work across all our alliances, both economic and especially military-political, which is unacceptable in the current situation. We need to review all the decisions that have been made and take our agenda more seriously,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.
The Belarusian leader pointed out that around two dozen documents had been submitted to the current CSTO summit. “Let’s be frank: do we really delve into every single issue there? Yes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reviewed them, the Ministry of Defense, and so on. But it would be preferable for the agenda to focus on key issues that affect the destinies of our states,” he emphasized. “So that Tajikistan, which faces issues on its border, can see itself there – how this problem will be resolved. If Russia and we have problems in the west, so that the Russians and we can see a return. Or at least a planned return, heaven forbid any conflicts arise. So that Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan can see some benefit from the work of this organization.”
“To ensure that everyone feels they can lean on the shoulder of a partner or friend, we must move forward and not relax,” the Belarusian head of state said. “We need to take concrete steps. If these steps are not taken, we will just keep gathering like this, talk, look at each other, but we must collectively plan something that will interest all our states.”
The president noted that similar approaches should be applied to other organizations as well – for instance, the Eurasian Economic Union. “The economy is the foundation of our military-political bloc as well. There, too, we need to delve into the details, plan, and seriously address these problems so that if a conflict arises, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Russia, Tajikistan, or Kyrgyzstan are not left to face it all alone,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.
“We must not relax and think: things are quiet and peaceful here, we are strong and we will react. Quite unexpectedly, just as happened in Belarus or Kazakhstan, these problems will arise, and we will find ourselves reacting on the spur of the moment,” the Belarusian head of state added. “Our adversaries must know in advance that we will not allow the situation inside our states to be destabilized in violation of the Constitution of any given nation. This is one of the most important tasks. We will ensure stability from within our organization. I am not even talking about ensuring our security from the outside. This is extremely important.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for organizing the CSTO summit in Moscow: “I know there are always plenty of problems and concerns when organizing any event, so I express my gratitude to you on behalf of the Belarusian delegation.”
He also expressed his gratitude to CSTO Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov for participating in the 4th Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security. “As far as I know from the feedback, the conference was a success: it was efficient, quick, and successful,” the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko also pointed to the International Collective Security Forum taking place in Moscow. “An exchange of views is underway among the participants of this conference, who belong to the elite of their respective states. This is also important for us today,” he added.
“I want to wish President Emomali Sharipovich [Rahmon] of Tajikistan a successful chairmanship in the organization’s anniversary year of 2027. I am confident that we will all come together to the beautiful city of Dushanbe and take part in our meeting,” the Belarusian leader concluded.