Kazakhstan's involvement in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is advantageous for the country, as both organizations are dedicated to ensuring peace and stability, Kazakhstan's Defense Minister, Ruslan Zhaksylykov, told an interview with the Tengrinews news agency.
"Historically, Kazakhstan has been part of the CSTO, an organization established at the dawn of our independence to maintain peace and constitutional order within its framework. Later, the SCO emerged, which also includes a military bloc. What do these organizations offer us? These two powerful entities strive to ensure peace and harmony in our regions, contributing to the development of our states. This is beneficial for us, and our head of state understands these objectives," Zhaksylykov said.
He noted that Astana is actively expanding its cooperation within these two organizations.
The Defense Minister also acknowledged the complexities of the current geopolitical situation. "However, I would like to point out that, thanks to the policies of our head of state, government, and society, Kazakhstan has no issues with any of our neighbors. Kazakhstan is the only state in the world that has no unresolved problems on its borders. The fact that Kazakhstan is prepared to respond to any challenges and threats is further supported by the presence of its independent, modern national army. The Armed Forces of Kazakhstan is one of the main institutions of our statehood," Zhaksylykov explained.
When discussing the size of Kazakhstan's army, the minister emphasized that it "meets the current requirements."
Kazakhstan is set to chair the CSTO in 2024. On July 4, the SCO summit was held in Astana, marking the end of Kazakhstan's presidency in this organization.
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Photo: Vadim Savitskiy/TASS
Based on materials TASS