Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has given the go-ahead for setting up a new anti-terrorism Rapid Reaction Force. The idea was put forward by the leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation last February.
The CSTO consists of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The Rapid Reaction Force will be permanently based in Russia with other member states providing specialist troops.
The soldiers will be used in counter terrorism and anti-drug trafficking operations. They will also have a wider role in combating other military threats.
The finalizing of the decree on the Rapid Reaction Force is planned for June 14’s summit of the CSTO in Moscow.