TASHKENT, JULY 3/5 2017 (The Bulletin) — Uzbekistan will not rejoin the Russia-led CSTO military group despite improved relations with its neighbours, Uzbek foreign minister Abdulaziz Kamilov said.
He was speaking after growing speculation that Uzbekistan was looking for a more prominent military role. Earlier, Uzbekistan had said that it was due to hold military exercises with Russia for the first time since 2005.
The CSTO, short for the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, was formed in 1992 after the break up of the Soviet Union and is mainly used as a mechanism for sharing military exercises. Although a rapid reaction force was set up in 2009, it has been criticised for not deploying forces, most notably during ethnic riots in Osh, south Kyrgyzstan, in 2010 that killed hundreds of people.
During a TV interview, Mr Kamilov said: “The question of renewing our CSTO membership is not on the agenda. There are no plans to discuss or review this matter in the future.”
Analysts had speculated that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in power since September 2016, may look to reengage with the CSTO. He has generally opened up Uzbekistan since taking power.
Uzbekistan suspended its membership of the CSTO between 1999 and 2006 and quit altogether in 2012. In August 2012, the Uzbek parliament voted to ban Uzbekistan from joining military alliances, including the CSTO. At the time, Uzbekistan was earning billions of dollars as an exit corridor for NATO equipment leaving Afghanistan.
Along with Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are also members.
