Central Asia to Join Russia-Led Defensive Union's Air, Missile Protection System

Central Asia will be included in a joint Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) air and missile defense system, Russian Chief of General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov said Wednesday.

MINSK (Sputnik) — Gerasimov said after the CSTO Military Committee in Belarus that bilateral unified air defense system agreements have been concluded with Belarus and Armenia.

"The next step is the creation of such a unified system in the Central Asian region," he said.

The CSTO is a military alliance comprising Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.