After Russia forced Kyrgyzstan’s hand in closing Manas Airbase, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), formed in 2002, has increased its role by creating a Rapid Reaction Force. The CSTO includes the four central asian states except for Turkmenistan (which is officially neutral), Russia, Belarus and Armenia. Its stated purpose is preserving its member states territorial integrity and providing collective security. In recent days Russia’s president Medvedev has increased its stated aims by saying that the security bloc will be “Just as good as comparable NATO forces,” and that “Russia is ready to contribute a division and a brigade. This gives you an idea of the scale.”
Importantly, the force will be based in Russia and under a single command. Uzbekistan has recorded a “special opinion,” stating that they “cannot accept the provision whereby all special services are to be part of the collective force.” I see this as an important development to be viewed in context with the closing of Manas.
