On November 12, 2024, a meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the CIS was held in Moscow. The CIS Secretary General Sergey Lebedev took part in it and made a welcome speech.
He said that “The world is undergoing global changes today. Humanity is increasingly inclined towards a just world order based on universal principles of respect for legitimate interests and the sovereign choice of States, respect for international law and mutually beneficial cooperation.
At the same time, under the influence of the changes taking place in the world, external threats are being transformed, they are becoming complex, becoming more and more widespread and diverse.
Building up NATO’s strike potential and giving it global functions, intensifying military activities beyond the borders of the bloc’s responsibility, and bringing its military infrastructure closer to the borders of the Commonwealth states poses an immediate threat to their national security.
The use of military force in violation of international law, the exploration of outer space and information space as spheres of military action, blurring the lines between military and non-military means of interstate confrontation destabilize the situation in the world, increase the risks of clashes between large States, including with the participation of nuclear powers, increase the likelihood of their escalation and escalating into a regional or global war.
Unfortunately, today we are witnessing and participating in the classic hybrid war unleashed by Western states and affecting the economic, political, information and other spheres.
Under the current conditions, the CIS states are forced to respond to new challenges and threats, adjust their policies in the interests of ensuring the guaranteed military security of our countries.
The Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States constantly and openly exchange views on the situation in the CIS and around the Commonwealth, as well as on joint measures to respond to political, military and economic challenges and threats.
The Council of Defense Ministers of the CIS member States undoubtedly has a powerful collective potential to strengthen and improve our joint activities in order to ensure peace and stability in the Commonwealth.
The activities of the Council and its coordinating committees contribute to the development and improvement of the effectiveness of multidisciplinary military cooperation.
Taking into account the changes in the international situation, the tasks facing the Council of Ministers of Defense of the Commonwealth are becoming more complicated, and the functionality and format of interaction is expanding. In this regard, we consider it very important in the Council’s activities to further strengthen cooperation and conduct joint practical events with the participation of interested relevant structures of the CSTO and the SCO.
The Council of Defense Ministers is a unique platform for the exchange of experience and an objective assessment of the use of various weapons systems, methods of warfare and, most importantly, the possibility of taking this experience into account when adjusting the plans of the Commonwealth states in the field of military construction, as well as the modernization and functioning of joint (combined) military systems of the CIS.”
Sergei Lebedev also touched on the theme of Victory in the Great Patriotic War: “As you know, the Heads of the Commonwealth of States decided to declare 2025 in the CIS the Year of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War – the Year of Peace and Unity in the Fight against Nazism.
In pursuance of this Decision, the Council of Heads of Government of the CIS (October 26, 2023, Bishkek) approved an Action Plan for the preparation and celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War in 2025 in the CIS.
At the last CIS Summit, on the initiative of the Russian Federation, the honorary title of “City of Labor Glory” was established. 1941-1945″, which is assigned to the cities of the Commonwealth, whose residents made a special contribution to achieving Victory in the Great Patriotic War, ensuring uninterrupted production of military and civilian products. Of course, awarding such a title will become a symbol of recognition and respect for the collective feat of our peoples, all those who worked in the rear, helped defeat the enemy.”
“It is obvious that new challenges and threats require the maximum use of the CIS integration potential. Our common desire to act in accordance with the demands of the time, the diversity of the work of your Council is reflected in the agenda of today’s meeting,” the Secretary General of the CIS summed up his speech.
