The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov said the CSTO is ready to involve Uzbekistan in the creation of a new Eurasian security system.

Axar.az reports that Masadykov made the remarks to Izvestia.

“In the regional context, the CSTO is promoting the idea of broad political dialogue aimed at building a new architecture of Eurasian security based on mutual trust and respect for the interests of all countries in the region. We see great potential for this work both with Uzbekistan and with many other countries and organizations in the region,” he said.

Uzbekistan suspended its membership in the CSTO in 2012, opposing the organization’s collective formats and opting for bilateral cooperation, then-CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha said at the time. According to him, Tashkent had ultimately decided not to participate in any military-political blocs.

"However, contacts have intensified significantly in recent years. Since 2018, the organization has had partnership mechanisms for non-aligned countries. Observer status allows countries to participate in meetings and familiarize themselves with the organization’s activities without obligations to take part in joint operations, while partner status provides for participation in practical activities. Tashkent currently holds neither status, but they could be used in the future," Masadykov explained.

“Certainly, the legal framework of the partnership and observer institutions could be used to implement joint efforts,” he added.