A “Russian NATO”: Putin trying to make a Russian-led bloc aimed at the West

According to the ISW, the Kremlin is promoting a narrative about NATO being a threat to not only Russia, but several Eurasian states.

What is happening?

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia is continuing to promote the dream of a Eurasian security alliance – basically an Eastern NATO with Russia at it’s center.

The security meeting

On May 28th, Putin gave a video adress at the 13th International Meeting of High Representatives Responsible for Security Issues.

According to Russian media, 105 countries were present at the meeting, including members of the BRICS, SCO, ASEAN and African Union.

Putin’s dream

In his adress, Putin advocated for the creation of his previously suggested Eurasian security architecture.

This includes a whole new security framework, which Putin suggested last year as well.

What would it look like?

According to Xiaoyun Qiang, a Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Department of Russian-Central Asian Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, the proposition last year included three cornerstones.

Equality and indvisibility

First of all, the framework is based on consensus-based partitipation and decisionmaking.

This would basically mean that every country, no matter it’s size, population and geographical position – in short a network aimed at cohesion and inclusivity within the region.

Multidimensional security

The second cornerstone of the proposition is multidimensional security, introducing a very broad definition of “hybrid warfare”.

According to Qiang, Russia hopes to enhance trust among member states, reducing the potential for conflict.

Overall security

The third cornerstone is an emphasis on the concept that the security of each country is part of the overall security.

Repeating West-threats

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov attended af meeting for defense ministers of members of the CSTO – a security alliance consisting of six former Soviet states.

During the meeting Belousov said that the West does not just threaten Russia, but all of the CSTO member states.

This, according to ISW, is an attempt to create unification between the CSTO-members

The 6 CSTO-members

Other than Russia, the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) consists of:

Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan and Tajikistan.

Former mebers include Azerbaijan, Georgia and Uzbekistan.