Putin calls for rearmament of CSTO forces

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed launching a large-scale program to rearm the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) forces with modern Russian weapons.

Speaking at an expanded meeting of the CSTO Collective Security Council, Putin said the forces should be equipped with “weapons and hardware proven effective in real combat operations.”

He also stressed the importance of developing aviation, air-defense systems, peacekeeping capabilities and strengthening defense-industrial cooperation among CSTO member states.