What is the Collective Security Treaty Organisation?
The Russian-led alliance is flexing its muscles in Kazakhstan
WHEN PROTESTS in Kazakhstan, an oil-rich country of 19m people, erupted in mass unrest in the opening days of the new year, Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev, the country’s president, knew who to call. Early on January 6th he picked up the phone to the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO). Within hours, Russian paratroopers and Belarusian special forces were boarding planes for Almaty, ready to help Mr Tokayev control the uprising. What is the CSTO?
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