Has CSTO Refused To Help Kremlin?

Why are the Russian Federation's "military allies" in no hurry to help in the Kursk region?

The well-known Ukrainian political scientist, head of the Penta Center for Applied Political Research Volodymyr Fesenko told the Charter97.org website about this:

— Russia did not contact the CSTO because of the Ukrainian Armed Forces operation in the Kursk region. Why? After all, in Kazakhstan in 2022, when there was an uprising in the country, CSTO troops appeared in the country, although there was no real danger to the authorities there.

—There is a big difference between the events in Kazakhstan and Ukraine. There was unrest there and, perhaps, this was the only time the CSTO was involved in its entire existence.

It was a police operation. Russian and Belarusian special forces helped the Kazakh authorities in protecting strategic facilities and government agencies. That was all.

When everything calmed down, the head of Kazakhstan Tokayev tried to ensure that the CSTO contingent left Kazakhstan as quickly as possible.

After the Crimea, even the closest allies of the Russian Federation are wary of the presence of troops (even just special forces) of the Russian Federation on their territory. This is always a risk. It is not known how this will end.

— Of the so-called allies of Moscow, only Lukashenka, the DPRK and the Syrian Assad regime have spoken out to condemn the operation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region. Not Kazakhstan, not Tajikistan, not other so-called allies in various post-Soviet organizations. What does this mean?

— Unlike the situation in Kazakhstan, a full-scale war is currently underway in Ukraine, which no CSTO country, except for the Russian Federation, wants to get involved in.

This is not their war. It can only bring them huge problems and risks. Even Lukashenka in many of his statements (including recent ones) has repeatedly (albeit hypocritically) emphasized that the war must be ended. This is actually his sincere interest.

After all, he understands perfectly well that if Belarus is drawn into the war, it will end badly for his regime and for him personally. The risks will increase sharply.

Lukashenka knows very well that the Belarusian people do not want this war, and do not want to participate in it. Kazakhstan and other CSTO countries do not want to participate in this war either.

For example, Kazakhstan has its own relations with the West. Again, this is a war in which Kazakhstan does not see its interests, but only risks. I regularly communicate with Kazakh experts, public figures and I know very well that Kazakhstan is afraid of Russia. Although they are not only members of the CSTO, but also the EAEU.

After all, they are well aware of the statements of the Russian Federation regarding the northern territories of Kazakhstan. These are exactly the same statements as those that were made regarding the "Russian lands" in Ukraine. In Kazakhstan, they understand perfectly well that if they help Russia, they can become the next target tomorrow.

They will be given an ultimatum, they will simply have nowhere to go. Therefore, they do not want to get involved in this war. I repeat, it does not meet their interests, but on the contrary, it will create problems for them.

Plus, as in Belarus, Kazakh society does not support Russia’s war in Ukraine, many there sympathize with Ukraine.

Armenia is very upset with Russia because it did not help in the Karabakh war. Now Putin's visit to Azerbaijan shows, let's say, not a very friendly attitude towards Armenia. An ally would not act this way.

Rather, it demonstrates that now Azerbaijan, which is not a member of the CSTO, is a more acceptable accomplice for Putin than Armenia. In this situation, Armenia is gradually distancing itself from the CSTO, hinting that now it is about freezing its participation, and in the future it may even leave this organization when the risks are lower.

All the CSTO countries (of which there are not many), each for its own reasons, do not want to get involved in this war, and they made this clear to the Kremlin back in 2022. It will not give them anything, but will only create problems with Western countries. Belarus has already been subject to sanctions, and Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan do not want to experience the same.

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