Map showing CSTO nations
(Public domain via Wikipedia)
A meeting for the Collective Security Treaty Organization has been going on:
10 November 2026
On November 10, 2026, a plenary session of the International Forum on Collective Security was held in Moscow. It was attended by CSTO Secretary General Talatbek Masadykov; Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov; Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi; Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev; Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov; and Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin.
The participants exchanged views on a wide range of issues related to Eurasian security. https://en.odkb-csto.org/news/news_odkb/generalnyy-sekretar-odkb-taalatbek-masadykov-prinyal-uchastie-v-plenarnom-zasedanii-mezhdunarodnogo-/#loaded
Although Vladimir Putin is in Abu Dhabi, he also wants the CSTO to increase its influence:
Putin calls for building up the CSTO’s potential amid international tensions
10 November 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for building up the potential of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in light of international tensions.
The head of state’s greeting to participants of the International Forum on Collective Security was read out by Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk.
“The CSTO member states have accumulated considerable experience of constructive cooperation. At the same time, it is obvious that, given the persisting international tensions, it is important to further build up the organization’s potential and the coordination of efforts to address the tasks facing it, primarily in the sphere of defense, in matters of countering terrorism and extremism, combating cybercrime, drug trafficking and illegal migration,” Putin’s greeting says.
The Russian president noted that the meeting brought together representatives of government bodies, military departments and defense industry enterprises, scientists and experts. https://1news.az/en/news/20261110140507211-Putin-calls-for-building-up-the-CSTO-s-potential-amid-international-tensions
Here is a news article I posted related to CSTO in 2009:
Russia wants CSTO to be as strong as NATO
RIA Novosti – May 29, 2009
MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) – Russia is planning to build a strong military contingent in Central Asia within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) comparable to NATO forces in Europe, a Russian business daily said on Friday.
The CSTO, a post-Soviet regional security bloc comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, has already agreed to create a joint rapid-reaction force, but Russia is preparing a new, larger-scale project.
“The work is being conducted in all areas, and a number of documents have been adopted,” the Kommersant newspaper quoted an unidentified source in the Foreign Ministry as saying.
“It will be a purely military structure, built to ensure security in Central Asia in case of an act of aggression,” the source said.
Russia already has joint military contingents with Belarus and Armenia in the CSTO framework.
The new force will comprise large military units from five countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
“It will include armored and artillery units, and a naval flotilla in the Caspian Sea,” CSTO press secretary Vitaly Strugovets said earlier.
The creation of a powerful military contingent in Central Asia reflects Moscow’s drive to make the CSTO a pro-Russian military bloc, rivaling NATO forces in Europe. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090529/155118377.html
This is a Russian-led military confederation.
One of the reasons for a post about CSTO today was because I saw the following:
What Could The Eurasian Order Look Like If Trump Cuts A Series Of Deals To Save MAGA?
Npvember 8, 2026
The purpose in sharing this scenario forecast is to generate a discussion within Trump 2.0 and among experts in Russia, Iran, and China about the political feasibility of the proposed compromises aimed at stabilizing Eurasia …
The resultant Eurasian Order will now be detailed.
Beginning with Russia as elaborated on here more at length, the US’ compromises would be to withdraw most or all of its forces from post-1997 NATO members with the possible removal of its nuclear umbrella over them, though European NATO’s forces might remain under an Anglo-Franco nuclear umbrella. The US would also obtain stakes in Russian pipelines and energy companies as “political safeguards” for the resumption of Russian exports to the EU to replace lost US imports that would be redirected back home. …
The US’ new mineral investments in Central Asia could also reach its shores via the Trans-Siberian Railway instead of TRIPP since that would take them directly to its West Coast tech hub instead of having to go across the Panama Canal or the Heartland. …
The “Asian Arc” stretching from Northeast to Southeast Asia could see Japan nuclearizing as a counterbalance to China and extending its umbrella over South Korea if the US withdraws a significant number of its forces from Northeast Asia. They could be redeployed to Southeast Asia to deter China from changing the maritime status quo (which might become formalized) in parallel with reaffirming the US’ mutual defense obligations to the Philippines and possibly expanding them to Vietnam and others.
The Eurasian Order would be fundamentally transformed through this proposed revolution in US foreign policy, but to be absolutely clear, this piece is only a scenario forecast; it’s not a prediction and shouldn’t be misinterpreted or maliciously misportrayed as one. https://korybko.substack.com/p/what-could-the-eurasian-order-look
While that is not specifically about CSTO, it is a discussion of a larger Eurasian alliance that the Trump Administration may influence. And China will one day be part of it.
Is a larger Eurasian alliance coming?
Yes.
Several parts of the Bible show that the coming “Babylonian/European” empire will be destroyed by a northern power involving Russia and others in Asia:
2 “Declare among the nations,
Proclaim, and set up a standard;
Proclaim — do not conceal it —
Say, ‘Babylon is taken, Bel is shamed.
Merodach is broken in pieces;
Her idols are humiliated,
Her images are broken in pieces.’
3 For out of the north a nation comes up against her,
Which shall make her land desolate,
And no one shall dwell therein.
They shall move, they shall depart,
Both man and beast. (Jeremiah 50:2-3)41 “Behold, a people shall come from the north,
And a great nation and many kings
Shall be raised up from the ends of the earth.
42 They shall hold the bow and the lance;
They are cruel and shall not show mercy.
Their voice shall roar like the sea;
They shall ride on horses,
Set in array, like a man for the battle,
Against you, O daughter of Babylon.43 “The king of Babylon has heard the report about them,
And his hands grow feeble;
Anguish has taken hold of him,
Pangs as of a woman in childbirth …”(Jeremiah 50:41-43).
Thus, the European empire (the “daughter of Babylon”) is to be destroyed by a northern (apparently Russian-led) force.
Herbert W. Armstrong taught:
50th and 51st chapters of Jeremiah, showing what God is then going to do to this evil power that he calls under the symbolic name of Babylon, which is not the ancient Babylon of 600 years before Christ, but the daughter of that ancient Babylon, and it’s this modern power that I say is now rising up. …
God is going to send a horde of nations from north of Jerusalem, which means the territory that today is the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. In other words, … from the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, the hordes of … Russia are going to come, a horde of nations to battle her mightily, this modern daughter, the ancient Babylon. Now it’s the time of the Eternal’s vengeance just exactly as you read in Revelation 18, just prior to the second coming of Christ. The time that climaxes in the second coming of Christ. …
Now, Verse 11 (Jeremiah 51:11), Polish your arrows, scour your armor. The Eternal is stirring up Medes king planning to ruin Babylon it is the Eternal’s vengeance. It’s the time of the day of the Lord. It’s the time that climax is in the second coming of Christ just ahead of us. …
Who is this? Media and Medes king? Let’s go back a little bit. The Medes and the Persians conquered the Ancient Babylon and my friends, the people of Media moved on farther north and the most populous part of Russia and the Ukraine area today is pretty much composed of those people, the descendants of those people. … it’s the Medes who moved up into the USSR today that are going to conquer them just as ancient Media conquered Ancient Babylon, (Armstrong HW. False Prophet. The World Tomorrow Radio Broadcast https://www.hwalibrary.com/cgi-bin/get/hwa.cgi?action=getbroadcast&InfoID=1337302916).
The CSTO members were all part of the old Soviet Union, so they are among those nations that Herbert W. Armstrong referred to. And as for Ukraine, while it is NOT part of CSTO, parts of it have been been annexed by Russia.
Notice that both Russia and Iran (one part of Elam below) are apparently going to terrorize, and this would seem to include terrorizing the end-time Europeans (cf. Jeremiah 51:43):
24 “There is Elam and all her multitude,
All around her grave,
All of them slain, fallen by the sword,
Who have gone down uncircumcised to the lower parts of the earth,
Who caused their terror in the land of the living;
Now they bear their shame with those who go down to the Pit.
25 They have set her bed in the midst of the slain,
With all her multitude,
With her graves all around it,
All of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword;
Though their terror was caused
In the land of the living,
Yet they bear their shame
With those who go down to the Pit;
It was put in the midst of the slain.26 “There are Meshech and Tubal and all their multitudes,
With all their graves around it,
All of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword,
Though they caused their terror in the land of the living.
27 They do not lie with the mighty
Who are fallen of the uncircumcised,
Who have gone down to hell with their weapons of war;
They have laid their swords under their heads,
But their iniquities will be on their bones,
Because of the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.
28 Yes, you shall be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised,
And lie with those slain by the sword. (Ezekiel 32:24-28)
Jeremiah 50:1-3 and 51:7–11 indicate that a northern nation or northern nations (Jeremiah 50:9,41) (those Ezekiel 38/39 refers to those of the”far north”; only Scandinavia, Inuit areas, or countries once in the old Soviet Union are north of the King of the North) will destroy Babylon and could be in the forefront of what may be a nuclear attack on Rome itself (cf. Revelation 18:9–10). And although many nations are north of Jerusalem (and most prophetic biblical directions seem to be centered in Jerusalem), it would seem that the expression “far north” is pointing to those that inhabit the northern extremes of Eurasia. The Scandinavian nations, such as Finland, would be expected to be hit quite hard, but so will much of end-time Europe.
The fact that verses related to the destruction of end time Babylon mention the Medes (Jeremiah 51:11,28), this shows that the Medes must be associated with a northern power–which thus shows that the Russians are biblically considered to be Medes.
Notice also that the Bible shows Babylon tied together with birth pains/pangs to a group from a far country and the Medes:
1 The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.
2 “Lift up a banner on the high mountain, Raise your voice to them; Wave your hand, that they may enter the gates of the nobles. 3 I have commanded My sanctified ones; I have also called My mighty ones for My anger–Those who rejoice in My exaltation.” 4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, Like that of many people! A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together! The LORD of hosts musters The army for battle. 5 They come from a far country, From the end of heaven–The LORD and His weapons of indignation, To destroy the whole land. 6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore all hands will be limp, Every man’s heart will melt, 8 And they will be afraid. Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; They will be in pain as a woman in childbirth; They will be amazed at one another; Their faces will be like flames (Isaiah 13:1-8).
17 “Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, Who will not regard silver; And as for gold, they will not delight in it. 18 Also their bows will dash the young men to pieces, And they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb; Their eye will not spare children. 19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. (Isaiah 13:17-19)
Thus, both the accounts in Jeremiah and Isaiah seem related to the same invaders. This is referring to an end time confederation that has a distance to travel–apparently a type of union of powers from the east including Russia, who is also the major power of the far north.
Furthermore, a “far country” also seems to be tied to the powers of the east elsewhere in Isaiah:
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it. (Isaiah 46:11)
Russia and the rest of Asia are east of the coming European Beast power.
Those called Medes are also shown to destroy the final Babylon according to Isaiah, as well as Jeremiah:
11 Make the arrows bright!
Gather the shields!
The Lord has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes.
For His plan is against Babylon to destroy it,
Because it is the vengeance of the Lord,
The vengeance for His temple. (Jeremiah 51:11)
The fact that there are multiple kings of the Medes indicates that multiple powers involved in this end time confederation represent multiple governments. Perhaps, such as Russia, Belarus, Crimea, etc.
Roman Catholics may find it of interest to note that even among their scholars, it is taught that the “Babylon” of Jeremiah 51:11 is referring to a European power: “the Roman Empire” (Kurz W. What Does the Bible Say About End Time? A Catholic View. Nihil Obstat: Hilarion Kistner, Imprimatur: +Carl Moeddel, July 19, 2004. Servant Books, 2004, pp. 48-49)
Notice that the Bible clearly states there is a group from the far north:
3 O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal … 6 from the far north and all its troops–many people are with you (Ezekiel 38:3,6).
14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog … 15 … you will come from your place out of the far north… (Ezekiel 38:14-15).
1 O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; 2 and I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the far north (Ezekiel 39:1-2).
A Russian confederation is that only place on the planet that is in the far north and currently has massive military power. A northern confederation (that appears to be led by Russia and probably includes the far north and far east/Pacific coast portion of Asia) will destroy the European Babylon.
The Worldwide Church of God published the following:
Much of Asia will eventually be marshaled into a great end-time, communist-dominated confederacy …
The People’s Republic of China — the “many people” of Ezekiel 38 — is thus pictured as being linked with Gog in the last days. We can conclude that, one way or another, the breach that separates the Soviet Union and China will eventually be bridged. Beijing and Moscow will yet come to terms in spite of racial and political tensions!
Linked with the Russians and the other nations of the Orient in the vast end-time Asian confederacy will be Persia, Cush, Phut, Gomer and Togarmah (Ezek. 38:5-6). … the coming Eurasian confederacy will devastate much of Western Europe.
Yes, even though not all the old Soviet nations are still communist, a Russian-led power will destroy end-time European Babylon. (Russia & China in Prophecy. WCG booklet, 1987)
The late Pastor General of the old Worldwide Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong, concurred with this as he stated:
Russia to Destroy This Babylon
Now, God is going to use Russia to destroy this Babylon; we’ve been seeing that, we’ve been going through a lot of the prophecies about it.
Now let’s see, let’s get back here right to the place where we were winding up in the preceding program, in verse twenty-five, I think that’s the last verse we had, let me just read that one verse over again:
“I strike at you, says the Eternal, you volcano, ruining the world! I will lay hands on you and level you, and leave you all extinct; (Jeremiah 51:25 Moffatt).
Now the ancient city Babylon has been extinct. Of course Babylon was a city that ruled as an empire over a number of other peoples; it ruled over the Medes and the Persians and the Assyrians and a number of other people — in fact the whole world at that time. Actually it ruled pretty much over Egypt at that time, and it ruled over the world. And the city Babylon was destroyed and has not existed.
But now Babylon becomes this whole dictatorship that is coming up, a combined dictatorship of ten dictators, probably all in Europe …
“Raise your standard [God says of ancient Babylon, raise your… or this modern daughter of Babylon really…] raise your standard on the earth, blow the trumpet among the nations, open the campaign against her, summon the realms — Armenia, Mannai, Ashkenaz; muster your troops against her, cavalry swarming like locusts. Open the campaign against her with Media’s king, his satraps and his regents, and all his domain.” (Jeremiah 51:27, Moffatt).
Media’s King
Now, who’s He talking about? Media’s king — his satraps, his regents and all his domain. Who is that? It’s a number of nations. Well I’ve been showing you my friends that Media in prophecy refers today, where it’s mentioned, to USSR, the Soviet Communist Russia. Now we read back here in verse eleven:
“Polish your arrows, scour your armor — the Eternal is stirring {2} up Media’s king, planning to ruin Babylon. This is the Eternal’s vengeance…” (Jeremiah 51:11, Moffatt). …
Now verse nine;
“…For here I am rousing against Babylon a horde of nations from the North, to battle with her mightily until they master her, shooting like expert archers, who never go empty handed;” (Jeremiah 50:9 Moffatt)
Now they were not any horde of nations that came against the ancient Babylon 600 years before Christ, but this is talking of the time now. (Armstrong HW. Prophecies for the Future. Radio broadcast. https://www.hwalibrary.com/cgi-bin/get/hwa.cgi?action=getbroadcast&InfoID=1393256340)
Let me add that until 11/11/23, I had not seen that from Herbert Armstrong. But shared his comments here to show all that what I have been warning for years is consistent with how he viewed some of the same scriptures I referred to, related to Russia and the King of the Medes.
The following passages seem also to apply to Russia:
8 “Move from the midst of Babylon,
Go out of the land of the Chaldeans;
And be like the rams before the flocks.9 For behold, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon
An assembly of great nations from the north country,
And they shall array themselves against her;
From there she shall be captured.
Their arrows shall be like those of an expert warrior;
None shall return in vain. (Jeremiah 50:8-9)
It may be of interest to note that Armenia is part of CSTO–despite its ties to the European Union, scripture points to Armenia (called Ararat below) and some others that are part of the CSTO as part of the confederation that goes against end time Babylon:
27 Set up a banner in the land, Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations against her, Call the kingdoms together against her: Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a general against her; Cause the horses to come up like the bristling locusts. 28 Prepare against her the nations, With the kings of the Medes, Its governors and all its rulers, All the land of his dominion. 29 And the land will tremble and sorrow; For every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, To make the land of Babylon a desolation without inhabitant. (Jeremiah 51:27-29)
The kings–plural–of the Medes is one reason that I have warned for over a decade that parts of Ukraine would be confederate with Russia. And parts of Ukraine are now confederate with Russia.
Herbert Armstrong commented that the confederation is associated with the 200 million-man army–which means also that it will include nations not currently confederate with Russia (like apparently the Chinese and other Asians):
The second woe, with its symbols of horses and horsemen…and is also referred to as an event in the Day OF THE Eternal in Joel 2:4. This refers to a tremendous military power–also to the NORTH–due north! They come with an army of two hundred million! Think of it–an army of two hundred million! (Armstrong HW. The Book of Revelation Unveiled at Last! 1972 edition. p. 38-39).
Notice something else from Joel that is related to this:
6 Before them the people writhe in pain;
All faces are drained of color. (Joel 2:6)20 “But I will remove far from you the northern army,
And will drive him away into a barren and desolate land,
With his face toward the eastern sea
And his back toward the western sea;
His stench will come up,
And his foul odor will rise,
Because he has done monstrous things.” (Joel 2:20)
This is related because the northern, King of the North army of Europe, will be facing forces from the east–these would be forces most likely led by Russia.
Also the Hebrew word translated “writhe in pain” in Joel 2:6 is the same basic word used in Jeremiah 51:29 and translated as “and sorrow.” This also seems to tie all this together.
We also have the following video:
14:29
Is a Russia Europe War Prophesied?
Dr. Thiel analyzes recent comments by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who warned of a growing certainty of war between Europe and Russia. Are nations like Germany, Poland, Finland, Romania, and Russia preparing for an inevitable conflict? And more importantly — does the Bible predict this war? Drawing from Daniel 11, Jeremiah 50, Isaiah 13, Isaiah 47, Ezekiel 32, and other key passages, Dr. Thiel discusses:
The rise of the European King of the North
Dr. Thiel also explains why Russia is not the King of the North, despite popular misconceptions, and references insights from the late Herbert W. Armstrong.
Here is a link to the video: Is a Russia Europe War Prophesied?
Europe’s fate is that, yes, it will one day be invaded by a Russian-led confederation, and that European Babylon will be destroyed.
While that looks to be at least 7 years away, world events continue to align with properly understood biblical prophecies.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy as are two video sermonettes Russia, Ukraine, Babylonian Europe, and Prophecy and Ukraine in Prophecy?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? Are we close to the battle with Gog and Magog? Four related videos are available: Ezekiel 38 Gog and Magog War: Is it Soon?, Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?, Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code), and Gog, Magog, Vladimir Putin, and Ezekiel 38?
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
The European Union and the Seven Kings of Revelation 17 Could the European Union be the sixth king that now is, but is not? Here is a link to the related sermon video: European Union & 7 Kings of Revelation 17:10.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about the peoples of Africa, Asia, South America, and the islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon; When Will the End of the Age Come?; Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.