Russia and the CSTO Explained — Thomas Ambrosio

30. 1. 2024

This episode of The IR thinker analyses the strategic role and evolving dynamics of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), examining its core objectives, how it compares with NATO, and the internal relations among member states. The discussion considers CSTO’s relevance for Russia’s security and economic interests, the organisation’s operational capabilities, the involvement of external actors such as China and Iran, and the possible futures of the bloc, from reform and expansion to decline.

Thomas Ambrosio

Dr Ambrosio is Professor of Political Science in the Criminal Justice and Political Science Department at North Dakota State University in the United States. His research focuses on international relations, Russian foreign policy and the stability of authoritarian regimes, with particular attention to how Russia constructs and uses regional organisations and alliances such as the CSTO in its broader geopolitical strategy.

Publications:

Authoritarian Backlash: Russian Resistance to Democratization in the Former Soviet Union

Challenging America’s Global Preeminence: Russia’s Quest for Multipolarity

Between Threat, Alliance, and Multivectorism: Kazakh-Russian Relations in the Wake of the Russo-Ukrainian War

Catching the ‘Shanghai Spirit’: How the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Promotes Authoritarian Norms in Central Asia

Content

00:00 - Introduction to CSTO
03:18 - CSTO’s Strategic Goals and Objectives in 2024
06:02 - CSTO and NATO: A Comparative Analysis
08:23 - Internal Dynamics: Relations Among CSTO Member States
15:19 - CSTO’s Role in Supporting Russia’s Energy and Economic Policies
16:53 - CSTO’s Function in Safeguarding Russia’s Economic Interests
18:14 - Aligning CSTO Activities with Russia’s National Security Agenda
21:21 - International Backing for CSTO: The Role of China, Iran, and North Korea
22:36 - Future Trajectory of CSTO: Expansion or Dissolution Prospects
24:47 - Operational Capacity of CSTO: Forces and Military Capabilities
26:22 - Evaluating the Current Agenda of CSTO
31:00 - Future Outlook: Revising CSTO’s Strategic Agenda for Sustainability
34:13 - Assessing Russia’s Diplomatic Strategies within CSTO
35:52 - BRICS and CSTO: Potential for Adoption of Treaty Framework
38:30 - Western Perspectives on Russia’s Geopolitical Alliances and Blocs
42:27 - Highlighting CSTO’s Key Achievements and Positive Contributions
44:22 - Impact of CSTO on Russia’s Security Doctrine and Policy
46:34 - Analysing the Reasons Behind Countries’ Withdrawal from CSTO
48:37 - Operational Challenges: Understanding CSTO’s Unique Functioning
51:47 - CSTO’s Role in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Dynamics
54:10 - Key Lessons from CSTO for Russia and Member States