SCO to set up security threat response center

Central Asia (CA) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said that maintaining the security of the SCO member states remains a top priority. He said the Astana summit will establish a global center for responding to security threats based on the SCO’s anti-terrorism framework.

“The decision taken today is aimed at transforming the SCO’s regional anti-terrorist structure into a universal centre for responding to various security threats, and its purpose is precisely this (maintaining security),” Putin said at the summit. His words were published on the Kremlin website.

In addition, an anti-drug center will be established in Dushanbe. The Russian president said that the cooperation plan approved at the summit will help fight separatism and extremism in the SCO region.

In mid-June, Putin said during a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Foreign Ministry that Eurasia needs a new security architecture open to all countries, including NATO members. He specifically pointed out the need to “gradually reduce the military presence of external forces in the region.” The Kremlin reported that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit will mention the establishment of a new Eurasian security system.