The military contingents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are involved in the exercises "Indestructible Brotherhood - 2024"
During the exercises "Indestructible Brotherhood – 2024", issues of post-conflict settlement will be worked out, which should increase trust between the participating countries, experts interviewed by Izvestia believe. They will solve combat training tasks at checkpoints and reception points for victims, as well as tasks to rescue hostages and provide humanitarian assistance. The military contingents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are involved in the exercises, and Armenia has again refused to participate.
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| The Indestructible Brotherhood - 2024. |
| Source: iz.ru |
The purpose of the "Indestructible Brotherhood – 2024" exercises
Command and staff exercises with the Collective Peacekeeping Forces of the CSTO "Indestructible Brotherhood – 2024" are held at the Bereg training ground in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Contingents of the peacekeeping forces of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan, operational groups of the Joint Staff and the CSTO Secretariat are taking part in them, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
The Russian forces are based on mountain, motorized rifle units, as well as calculations of unmanned aircraft of the 201st military base of the Central Military District.
"The command and staff exercise with the CSTO Peacekeeping Forces "Indestructible Brotherhood — 2024" begins today, aimed at working out issues of post-conflict settlement," said First Deputy Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, Lieutenant General Hassan Kaloev.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
The active phase of the exercises differs from those that were held in previous years, the CSTO notes. In addition to military formations, units of internal affairs bodies, police, internal and National Guard troops, as well as employees of departments responsible for preventing and eliminating the consequences of emergency situations are involved in joint actions.
In the course of practical actions, issues of post-conflict settlement in the crisis zone will be worked out. The forces involved will have to solve combat training tasks at checkpoints and reception points for victims, escorting convoys and cargo, liberating a settlement, rescuing hostages and providing humanitarian assistance in order to maintain peace in the Central Asian region.
In total, more than 2 thousand military personnel, 500 units of armored and automotive equipment, Mi-17, Mi-35 helicopters, Il-76 and S-295 aircraft, as well as unmanned aircraft are involved in the exercise.
The tasks of working out issues of post-conflict settlement remain relevant, military expert Viktor Litovkin noted.
"Such situations have happened more than once in recent years," he explained. — Conflicts are currently taking place in many parts of the world. In the same Kazakhstan, in 2022, the peacekeepers of the CSTO countries participated in the post-conflict settlement operation. There are still points in the post-Soviet territory where this experience may be required. Let's remember Karabakh at least. Sooner or later, Ukraine will also have to put things in order.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
In the CSTO countries, increased attention has always been paid to humanitarian issues, said military expert Roman Shkurlatov.
— The organization of peaceful life in the territories where military operations are underway or were underway is an important point, — he noted. — The involvement of the police and emergency forces is necessary when working out such actions: you cannot do without them. The organization already has experience. In 2022, the forces of the CSTO countries carried out a peacekeeping mission in Kazakhstan, but at the same time they had to solve issues of maintaining social infrastructure and the normal life of citizens. All these problems were adequately overcome and quickly put in order.
Cooling of Armenia's relations with the CSTO
Such exercises affect the strengthening of political relations between the CSTO countries, Stanislav Pritchin, head of the Central Asia Sector of the IMEMO RAS, told Izvestia.
— The issue of security is always as politicized as possible. Such military cooperation can be seen as confirmation that everything is well with the countries at the political level, there is trust," he says.
The events in Kazakhstan in 2022, when the republic needed the help of allies, showed a high level of coordination of the CSTO forces, the expert noted.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
"A decision was made in a matter of hours, and the first forces were sent to the republic — this demonstrates that the exercises are very important from the point of view of practical response to possible crises," he said.
Armenia does not participate in the CSTO exercises in Kazakhstan. This is not the first time she has refused to participate in joint events with the organization.
Back in February 2024, Yerevan froze its membership in the CSTO, and in the spring refused to pay the membership fee.
According to the Armenian side, the organization did not provide adequate support to Yerevan in the conflict with Baku, which as a result led to the complete cessation of the existence of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh. However, it should be borne in mind that from the point of view of international law, the CSTO could not be involved in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.
At the same time, Armenia's relations with Minsk also became complicated due to the visit of Alexander Lukashenko to Azerbaijan in May 2024, during which the Belarusian president visited Karabakh, which came under Baku's control.
Military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Image source: Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Armenia's absence from the exercises was not a surprise to anyone, Viktor Litovkin noted.
"They are gradually moving away from the organization after the recall of the CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov several years ago," he believes.
This process continues, as evidenced by Armenia's non-participation in the CSTO exercises in Kazakhstan, Dmitry Sidorov, head of the Department of Foreign Regional Studies at MGLU, told Izvestia.
— At the same time, Yerevan is striving to strengthen security cooperation with the European Union, individual European countries and the United States. In Armenia, this is called the diversification of security relations. In Russia, such aspirations of Yerevan are not understood," he believes.
Such removal of the republic can be considered as a way to please Western partners in the hope of getting more support and assistance, the expert believes. According to him, Yerevan will continue to adhere to this course, although neither the United States nor European countries are capable of becoming guarantors of security for Armenia.
Bogdan Stepovoy
Vladimir Matveev
Elizaveta Borisenko
