CSTO exercises begin in Kyrgyzstan without Armenia’s participation

The “Interaction-2024” command-staff exercises, along with the “Search-2024” and “Echelon-2024” special exercises of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) countries, have commenced in Balykchy, Kyrgyzstan, Report informs via Kyrgyz media.

Before the exercises began, Kyrgyz Defense Minister Baktybek Bekbolotov, CSTO Deputy Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov, and CSTO Joint Staff Chief Andrei Serdyukov laid wreaths at the monument to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War monument.

The exercises are planned to be conducted in three stages, focusing on training and joint operations to resolve armed conflicts in the Central Asian region.

Military personnel from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan, along with representatives from the CSTO secretariat and Joint Staff, are participating.

Over 1,500 military personnel and more than 200 pieces of military equipment, including around 10 aircraft, are involved in the exercises.

Armenia, despite being a CSTO member, has chosen not to participate in these exercises.