The Role of Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in the Central Eurasian Security

Relations with regional and trans-regional powers such as Russia have always been a major theme in foreign relations of the Central Asian and the Caucasus countries after gaining independence. Thanks to internal problems and security concerns and in order to maximize their interests in different realms of political, economic and security affairs, these countries have always welcomed the strategy of alliances and coalitions. Of course, the culture of multilateral cooperation among central Asian and Caucasus countries has not yet been institutionalized. Due to some animosities and difficulties among this region’s states, they welcome multilateral institutions. The survival of these countries is being threatened by terrorism, extremism, ethnic and racial conflicts, segregations and inefficiency of governments as well. Seemingly, the complexity and interconnectedness of the Central Asian and Caucasus issues are too severe to be resolved through bilateral relations. Therefore, multilateral cooperation among and within all governments, organizations and unions may be deemed necessary as a strategy for the countrie's external relations in the region.