MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday that Moscow is interested in its partners to have modern weapons, military technologies.
"We are interested in our allies and partners to have compact, highly mobile armed forces, equipped with modern weapons and military vehicles that could effectively resist the challenges and the threats to the national security," Shoigu said at the fifth Moscow Conference on International Security.
He added that strengthening of Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states' borders meant strengthening of Russia's security. Russian bases in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are guarantees for regional stability, he said.
“We are convinced that Russian bases in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are guarantees for regional stability. Together with our allies we are strengthening their combat abilities, which in turn strengthens the security of Dushanbe and Bishkek,” Shoigu said.
He said that it is in the interests of all to increase the military might of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
"One of the common goals is not to allow the expansion of terrorism into CIS countries. We are paying particular attention in this context of the alarming situation in Central Asia and on the development of negative influence from terrorist threats from Afghanistan," Shoigu said.
