(MENAFN) President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia’s battle-tested military equipment will be accessible to fellow members of a major regional security alliance.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which includes Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, stands to gain from Russia’s combat-proven armaments, Putin stated during a leaders’ summit in Kyrgyzstan.

He committed that Moscow will enhance the preparedness of the CSTO’s rapid-response units in the coming year, coinciding with Russia’s term as the organization’s rotating chair.

“We propose a large-scale program to rearm the collective forces with modern Russian weapons and equipment that have demonstrated their effectiveness in real combat conditions,” Putin declared, emphasizing the initiative’s scope.

Although the CSTO has traditionally concentrated on counterterrorism and anti-narcotics operations, Putin highlighted the growing significance of its collective-defense structure in today’s global environment.

He noted that maintaining the alliance’s “leadership in military technology” would be a central goal for Moscow during its chairmanship.

In recent years, Russia has expanded its defense sector and accelerated technological developments, particularly in drone warfare, amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Washington reportedly intensified efforts to steer Kiev toward a negotiated resolution, suggesting to Ukraine and its European partners that Russia’s military advantages leave limited options for Kyiv.

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