Expert explained importance of having unified and strong air and missile defence system within CSTO
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the unified air defence system of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation member states has actually been created, and Aleksei Avdonin, an expert of the Belarusian Institute of Strategic Studies, emphasised the importance of integration, including in the military sphere, in this regard
In his talk with Alfa Radio, Mr. Avdonin noted that the events of armed conflicts over the past 30 years show that NATO countries, the collective West actively use air and missile strikes at the beginning of any military operation, and this weakens a military component of any state that lacks a reliable air defence and missile defence system.
“The presence of a unified and strong air and missile defence system at the CSTO countries makes it possible to primarily ensure that NATO members cannot implement any of their plans to launch an air operation against a particular country,” Mr. Avdonin stated. “The impossibility of implementing such an air operation means that – under no circumstances – will NATO decide on an armed conflict since it always focuses first on a massive air-missile strike, which can further be followed by a land operation. It will not start the latter without this component (missile and aviation strike). With this in view, it is important for us now to cool the heads of our opponents, to demonstrate to the NATO countries and our competitors that we have all the forces and means to protect our airspace from any encroachments. Of course, this will be the strongest deterrent for NATO and any political elites of the collective West.”
The host of the programme, Vadim Shepet, added that this also shows that the decisions of the CSTO Summit recently held in Minsk are being implemented promptly. "Does close attention indicate that the CSTO potential is growing?" he asked, and the expert responded, “This organisation is not just a direct competitor to NATO: it is an alternative to the security system. We have seen that NATO and the United States often did not ensure the security of their allies. Meanwhile, the CSTO is the organisation that proclaims its readiness to ensure the security and stability of the countries interested in its expansion. This is a new security system, an alternative to NATO.”
“Recall how the United States promoted NATO after the USSR collapse, asserting that it was a kind of umbrella, a tool that – in the event of aggression – will allow a country to stand its ground with the support of other NATO members. Actually, we see perfectly well that the United States is ready to deceive allies in case of some internal interests. Do you remember how it acted with regard to Afghanistan and Iraq? It is now actually ready to do the same with Ukraine and Europe, since it is in its interests. If something becomes unprofitable for the US, it will not do it. In turn, our security system is built not on any commercial principles or principles of exclusive interest, but is focused on ensuring that every citizen of the CSTO countries feels safe, can think about family, children, development, work. This is the key point,” Mr. Avdonin summed up.
