CSTO supports the UN Charter’s principle of refraining from the threat or use of force in international relations.

On Wednesday, Foreign ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) called for urgent measures to prevent an arms race in outer space.

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A joint statement adopted by the ministers urged all countries, particularly those with significant space capabilities, to take immediate steps to prevent the placement of weapons in outer space and the use or threat of force in space-related activities.

They also called for the swift conclusion, through negotiations, of legally binding multilateral agreements that would be subject to effective verification mechanisms and aimed at preventing the weaponization of outer space.

The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the United Nations Charter ‘s principle of refraining from the threat or use of force in international relations, including in activities related to outer space.

They expressed serious concern over the possibility of an arms race in outer space and the risk of the domain becoming an arena for military confrontation. They also stressed that all humanity shares an interest in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.

The CSTO is a Russia-led military alliance formed by several former Soviet republics. It traces its origins to the Collective Security Treaty signed in 1992, shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and was formally established as an international organization in 2002. Its current members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

The alliance describes its mission as coordinating defense and security policies among member states and responding collectively to external threats.

Often compared to NATO because of its mutual defense provisions, the CSTO states that aggression against one member is considered aggression against all. However, the organization has generally been viewed as less cohesive and less capable than its Western counterpart.

It has focused primarily on regional security concerns, including counterterrorism, border protection, combating drug trafficking and conducting joint military exercises. Russia, which possesses by far the largest military and political influence within the bloc, has played the dominant role in shaping the organization’s agenda and operations.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: Xinhua – CSTO

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