CSTO updates – singling out a Central Asian reaction force

CSTO is a collective military organization that for long had been paired with SCO as Central Asia Security force. Talks of merging the two organizations as well as references of joint drills were made in the past to ensure the perception of an unified and confident Continental shelf. The Georgian crisis in August 2008 proved to be a cold shower in these aspects. It prompted Russia and some CIS states to address the question of factual involvement and military response.

SCO is taking a more diplomatic and political configuration, a sort of a Council rather than an Army. This finds it reason in the voluntary nature of the SCO, an organization that brings Central Asia diversity at the same table, cools border frictions, prevent smuggling and separatism but falls short of collective intervention mechanisms like in NATO (the same mechanism that would have complicated things had Georgia joined the organization afore the August crisis). SCO proved ineffective in its initial equidistant approach towards the Georgian conflict, remaining distant and speculative in front of a quickening of the pace of the events in Tskhinvali.

Little wonder that recently Russia moved with decision to power CSTO as an effective rapid action force by pushing for an increase in investments in weaponry, by calling for an effective deployment of an initial force of 5.000 and by setting zones of responsibility. CSTO Secretary

Gen. Bordyuzha ambitiously describes a 10 Battalions reaction force, an unified air defence system and a busy military drills agenda. To complete the picture, there would be an equal share of the financial burden and a negotiated supply of russian weapons on favourable conditions.

Exit GUUAM, enter..?

CSTO buildup is causing a counter-action within european US-allies. It prompted Poland, Ukraine and Lithuania in mid November to consider a Joint peacekeeping force to be formed by 2011. It is a strategic re-array given the alleged GUUAM lethargy, if not demise. The GUUAM organization, that used to unite in a common securty effort Georgia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Azerbajan and Moldiva is presently experiencing difficulties after the drop-off of Uzbekistan, the Georgian crisis and current Moldavian appeasement with Russia to solve the Transdniestrian problem. The new, strictly European geometry of this purported military organization implies also Azerbaijan to be increasingly at ease with its Russian neighbour as the recent Nagorno Karbakh peace talks substantiates.