Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MOSCOW281
2009-02-05 16:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
CSTO ESTABLISHES RAPID REACTION FORCE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHMO #0281 0361610 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 051610Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1785 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000281
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS PTER MARR MCAP ECON RS ZK XG
SUBJECT: CSTO ESTABLISHES RAPID REACTION FORCE
Classified By: Acting Political M/C David Kostelancik. Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MOSCOW 000281
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS PTER MARR MCAP ECON RS ZK XG
SUBJECT: CSTO ESTABLISHES RAPID REACTION FORCE
Classified By: Acting Political M/C David Kostelancik. Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (U) On February 4 the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) agreed at a summit in Moscow to establish
the Collective Rapid Reaction Force (CRRF),to be based in
Russia and under a single command. Medvedev proclaimed the
CRRF would be "well-trained" and receive the most modern
equipment to repulse military aggression, fight international
crime, conduct counternarcotics and counterterrorism
operations, and respond to natural disasters. It will be
"just as good as comparable NATO forces," he said. Medvedev
added that this force had already existed on paper, but now
the CSTO states had decided to activate the force.
2. (U) The final make-up of the CRRF is not yet defined, but
Medvedev said Russia is prepared to provide a division and a
brigade -- about 10,000 personnel. Kazakhstan looks set to
contribute a brigade of 3-4 thousand personnel, and the
remaining CSTO states would contribute a battalion each. In
addition to soldiers, the CRRF would also contain disaster
relief and Interior Ministry forces. The total size of the
CRRF would therefore be about 15,000 personnel. Uzbekistan
declined to participate in the CRRF on a permanent basis, but
would release troops ad hoc.
3. (C) The experts viewed the CRRF as a statement of Russia's
intentions in the region, to provide the legal basis for
Russian intervention in CIS countries, and give it a handy
tool to react to emergencies before outside countries such as
the United States could intervene. Some experts told us it
also reflected a fear that instability in Afghanistan could
spread to the poverty-stricken, authoritarian regimes in
Central Asia.
4. (C) The experts, however, do not take the CRRF seriously.
They doubt CSTO states, especially in Central Asia, possess
the resources to contribute to its operation. They noted
that the Belarusian constitution did not permit Belarusian
soldiers to be based outside of Belarus. There was also some
doubt of the willingness of some states to intervene in the
affairs of other CSTO member states. They assess that, until
concrete steps are taken to establish the CRRF, it will
remain a propaganda tool only. We will report more details
on the establishment of this force as they become known.
BEYRLE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS PTER MARR MCAP ECON RS ZK XG
SUBJECT: CSTO ESTABLISHES RAPID REACTION FORCE
Classified By: Acting Political M/C David Kostelancik. Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (U) On February 4 the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO) agreed at a summit in Moscow to establish
the Collective Rapid Reaction Force (CRRF),to be based in
Russia and under a single command. Medvedev proclaimed the
CRRF would be "well-trained" and receive the most modern
equipment to repulse military aggression, fight international
crime, conduct counternarcotics and counterterrorism
operations, and respond to natural disasters. It will be
"just as good as comparable NATO forces," he said. Medvedev
added that this force had already existed on paper, but now
the CSTO states had decided to activate the force.
2. (U) The final make-up of the CRRF is not yet defined, but
Medvedev said Russia is prepared to provide a division and a
brigade -- about 10,000 personnel. Kazakhstan looks set to
contribute a brigade of 3-4 thousand personnel, and the
remaining CSTO states would contribute a battalion each. In
addition to soldiers, the CRRF would also contain disaster
relief and Interior Ministry forces. The total size of the
CRRF would therefore be about 15,000 personnel. Uzbekistan
declined to participate in the CRRF on a permanent basis, but
would release troops ad hoc.
3. (C) The experts viewed the CRRF as a statement of Russia's
intentions in the region, to provide the legal basis for
Russian intervention in CIS countries, and give it a handy
tool to react to emergencies before outside countries such as
the United States could intervene. Some experts told us it
also reflected a fear that instability in Afghanistan could
spread to the poverty-stricken, authoritarian regimes in
Central Asia.
4. (C) The experts, however, do not take the CRRF seriously.
They doubt CSTO states, especially in Central Asia, possess
the resources to contribute to its operation. They noted
that the Belarusian constitution did not permit Belarusian
soldiers to be based outside of Belarus. There was also some
doubt of the willingness of some states to intervene in the
affairs of other CSTO member states. They assess that, until
concrete steps are taken to establish the CRRF, it will
remain a propaganda tool only. We will report more details
on the establishment of this force as they become known.
BEYRLE