Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called on Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko and other leaders of CSTO member states to join forces in protecting information given the growing influence of artificial intelligence. The initiative was voiced at a meeting of the CSTO Collective Security Council in Moscow.
In addition to Tokayev, the summit was attended by Putin, Lukashenko, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and CSTO Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov. The leaders discussed key issues of cooperation, summed up the organization's work for 2026 and outlined plans for the next period, and also exchanged views on international and regional security.
Three directions of a single strategy
Tokayev proposed focusing joint efforts along three vectors: combating international terrorism, countering drug trafficking and strengthening information security. According to him, information must be protected taking into account the rapidly growing influence of AI technologies. The Kazakh leader thanked Putin for the hospitality and noted Russia's fruitful work at the head of the CSTO this year, and congratulated Rahmon on the upcoming chairmanship of the organization. Following the meeting, the heads of state adopted the Declaration of the Collective Security Council and signed a number of documents intended to strengthen the common protection system.
Why cyber threats have become a common agenda for the region
Kazakhstan began strengthening digital security in advance: the powers of the Security Council were expanded — now its deputy chairman oversees cybersecurity, the use of AI and personal data protection, and the Security Council Apparatus became an independent body under the president. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev put forward a similar initiative at the CIS summit, proposing the creation of a common center against cross-border cyber fraudsters, since such schemes harm citizens and businesses and threaten the stability of financial systems.
Russia, which chairs the CSTO this year, is simultaneously scaling up the use of AI: the national plan covers 16 industries, and it is being implemented by 35 agencies in all 89 regions. The more widely neural networks penetrate the economy and public administration, the more systems and data need to be protected from attacks.
Cryptalist analysis: The synchronization of approaches to cybersecurity and AI regulation within the CSTO is forming a new regional contour of digital sovereignty, which for the crypto industry means stricter KYC/AML requirements and tighter control over cross-border flows of digital assets. For investors, this is a signal that digital threats are being discussed at the level of a military-political bloc, and not only by specialized agencies — which means the compliance burden on technology and crypto companies in the region will grow.