DISINFO: The West is trying to drive a wedge between the CSTO countries
SUMMARY
The West is actively opposing the integration processes in the post-Soviet space, the potential for conflict is accumulating along the perimeter of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).
This is happening against the background of active opposition from the West to the integration processes in the post-Soviet space and the involvement of the countries of the region in the sphere of their interests.
There are constant attempts to drive a wedge between the states, interfere in internal affairs and provoke "colour" revolutions. At the same time, various programmes and agreements are persistently imposed on the CSTO members under any pretext.
RESPONSE
This is a mix of several recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about belligerent West trying to encircle Russia, to separate post-Soviet countries and isolate Russia, and about popular protests as the result of Western-led colour revolutions.
Recurring pro-Kremlin narrative claiming that protests, disorders and civil uprisings are never manifestations of genuine popular discontent and political desires, but are foreign engineered colour revolutions directed and funded by Western intelligence services or other Western actors in order to destabilise targeted foreign states and bring about regime change. There is no evidence to support any of these claims.
As for the relations of the West and CSTO countries, they are based on mutual consent, bilateral interests and benefits. More, they are not directed against third parties. For example, the Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a joint policy initiative that aims to deepen and strengthen relations between the European Union (EU) and its six Eastern neighbours: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
The Eastern Partnership initiative is not against any country; it is a mutually beneficial and constructive platform for countries in the region to build a closer relationship with the EU if they choose to do so. The EU does not demand any of its partners to make a choice between the EU or any other country.
The EU recognises the strategic importance of Central Asia, which links the huge Asian continent with Europe. As the EU is working to make relations with Central Asia stronger and deeper, the European Union’s engagement with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has developed significantly since the countries' independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The EU does not impose any action or programme on the partner countries. The overall aim of cooperation is to build a common area of shared democracy, prosperity and stability in line with each individual country's aspirations. Involvement in the EU initiatives does not exclude membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, CIS or CSTO. The EU is a supporter of regional integration in all areas of the world.