International   

Russia, allies form defence bloc

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW APRIL 28. Russia and five other former Soviet states have set up a full-fledged defence bloc that should help Russia reassert its influence in the former Soviet states in the face of growing American presence in the region.

At a summit in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, the leaders of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Armenia and Belarus on Monday signed accords transforming the 10-year-old Treaty of Collective Security, of which they are all members, into a regional defence pact — "Collective Security Treaty Organisation" (CSTO).

The pact is being modelled after the Cold War Warsaw Pact in Eastern Europe, with a joint headquarters and armed forces. The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, said CSTO's goal is to "guarantee the security, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the member-states."

The CSTO's charter provides for joint repulsing of aggression against any member-state, which makes it similar to NATO. Russia has been the driving force behind the new pact, pledging to provide 50 per cent of its budget and the bulk of weapons and troops. Russia will also sell arms to the other members of the CSTO at reduced prices and will train their military personnel.

A day earlier, Mr. Putin said Russia would beef up its military presence in the region to counter terrorist and narcotics threats from Afghanistan. A Russian airbase, to be commissioned in Kyrgyzstan by July 1, will provide aerial support to the CSTO's rapid reaction forces. Russia will also set up a military base in Tajikistan.

Analysts say the war in Iraq has expedited the establishment of a new defence bloc, casting in a new light the growing military presence of the U.S. the former Soviet Union.

"All members of the CSTO willy-nilly put themselves in Iraq's shoes and came to the conclusion that without pooling their defence potentials they cannot feel themselves secure," said General Leonid Ivashov, former head of the Russian Defence Ministry's international cooperation department.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Pak. wants `concrete' measures
• Kasuri names seven countries for `joint monitoring' of LoC
• Pakistan attacks Blackwill, Farooq
• Work to usher in new era, Garner tells delegates
• Keep off Iraq, Blair tells Iran
• Vietnam may be removed from SARS list
• Khaleda cancels meeting with French Minister
• Pak. plane makes emergency landing
• Russian army to go volunteer
• Diplomatic tussle intensifies
• Indo-Bangla talks on border issues
• Russia, allies form defence bloc

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu