Rubezh-2025: A New Dynamic in Central Asian Security Cooperation and Global Counter-Terrorism Exercises

In the mountainous battlefields of Issyk-Kul Oblast, Kyrgyzstan, multinational forces are rehearsing a joint strike operation against illegal armed groups.

The CSTO exercise "Rubezh-2025" was held in Issyk-Kul Oblast, Kyrgyzstan, from September 13 to 20, 2025. This exercise, a chiefs-of-command exercise of the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces of the Central Asian region, involved nearly 1,200 personnel and approximately 500 pieces of equipment, including helicopters, drones, and combat boats.

The exercise focused on "preparing and conducting combat operations of the Collective Rapid Deployment Forces of the Central Asian region to eliminate illegal armed groups invading the territories of CSTO member states," reflecting the effective integration of current security needs in Central Asia with collective defense mechanisms.

01 Exercise Background and Strategic Positioning

The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a key security mechanism in Eurasia, established its Central Asian Collective Rapid Deployment Force (CRF) in 2001 to safeguard the military security of its member states, defend against external military aggression, and conduct joint counter-terrorism operations.

Current CSTO member states include Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The organization evolved from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Collective Security Treaty signed in 1992 and was officially established in May 2002.

The "Rubezh-2025" exercise is a regular exercise under this security mechanism, demonstrating the member states' shared commitment to security and stability in Central Asia. At the opening ceremony of the exercise, CSTO Secretary-General Tasmagambetov noted that the CRF is an essential component of the CSTO military and should be prepared to respond promptly and effectively to national and collective security challenges and threats arising in Central Asia.

The exercise was held in Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul Oblast, which features a complex terrain encompassing both mountainous and plain areas, providing an ideal environment for training against diverse security threats.

02 Exercise Design and Implementation Process

The "Rubezh-2025" exercise is divided into three phases, gradually increasing the complexity and combat effectiveness of the training.

In the first phase, participating troops will enter a high-level combat readiness state, complete cross-Rubezh maneuvers and assembly, and conduct coordinated training. This phase focuses on testing the troops' rapid response and mobility capabilities, ensuring they can quickly assemble in designated areas upon receiving orders.

The second phase will practice operational planning and joint preparations in mountainous conditions. Mountain warfare places special demands on command coordination and tactical application. Staff officers must formulate operational plans tailored to the terrain characteristics and the enemy and friendly situation.

The third phase will involve live-fire drills to deal with illegal armed groups and restore stability in Rubezh areas. This phase focuses on real-world combat operations, testing the results of previous training and enhancing the troops' combat capabilities in real-world conditions.

The exercise is specifically designed to "dismantle the preparations and combat operations for illegal armed groups invading the territories of CSTO member states," reflecting the CSTO's assessment of and response to current security threats in Central Asia.

03 Joint Military Exercises in a Global Perspective

While the CSTO held its "Rubezh-2025" exercise in Kyrgyzstan, similar security cooperation activities were also underway in other parts of the world. Military exercises in different regions reflected their respective security concerns and cooperation models.

In China, the Defense Mobilization Offices of Baotou, Ordos, and Yulin jointly conducted the "Golden Autumn Sword-2025" cross-regional support and coordination exercise from September 23 to 25, 2025. The three cities jointly completed multiple combat-oriented training exercises, achieving interconnected communications networks and sharing of communications equipment and data resources across different locations.

This exercise focused on testing joint command and coordinated operations capabilities under field emergency conditions, demonstrating China's cooperative model for regional defense mobilization.

Across the Atlantic, the US-led Bamboo Eagle exercise showcased the security cooperation of Western allies. Held in early 2025, the exercise involved the US Air Force, the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the Royal Canadian Air Force.

The Bamboo Eagle exercise focused on practicing agile combat deployment concepts, testing the ability of joint and coalition forces to deploy aircraft, equipment, and personnel at unfamiliar airfields. Major General Christopher Niemi, Commander of the U.S. Air Force Operations Center, noted, "Modern threats have fundamentally changed the reality of our long-term operations from secure bases, and Bamboo Eagle is an important component in helping us address these threats."

These military exercises, conducted simultaneously in different regions, reflect how countries collaborate and prepare to face diverse security challenges. The CSTO, China's inter-city cooperation, and Western allied exercises each have their own focus, but all embody the shared philosophy of enhancing the ability to respond to security threats through joint training.

04 The Value of Regional Security and Multilateral Cooperation

At the closing ceremony of the exercise, Ellis Tertikbaev, First Deputy Minister of Defense of Kyrgyzstan, noted that the exercise successfully accomplished its assigned tasks, and that the participating forces demonstrated excellent professionalism and high levels of coordination and collaboration, further enhancing the level of joint operations.

As a key security mechanism in Eurasia, the CSTO strengthens military cooperation and mutual trust among its member states through regular exercises like these. This mechanism not only enhances the defense capabilities of individual member states but also strengthens overall regional security and stability. From the perspective of the global security architecture, different regional organizations conduct joint exercises tailored to their respective security environments, demonstrating a multi-layered and diverse model of international security cooperation. These forms of cooperation play an important role in maintaining stability in their respective regions.

As a crucial hub connecting Europe and Asia, the security and stability of Central Asia has a significant impact on neighboring regions. Through exercises such as "Rubezh-2025," the CSTO has demonstrated the ability and resolve of its member states to jointly address security challenges.

After the smoke cleared in Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul Oblast, the multinational forces left behind not only the traces of the training grounds but also a new imprint of regional security cooperation. The troops participating in the "Rubezh-2025" exercise have completed their assembly and withdrawal, but the coordination mechanisms established during the exercise will continue to operate.

Globally, security cooperation mechanisms in different regions have their own unique characteristics, but they share a common thread: enhancing their ability to respond to complex security challenges through joint training. Through the "Rubezh-2025" exercise, CSTO member states strengthened their command coordination, tactical coordination, and joint operational capabilities, becoming more fully prepared to address real security threats in Central Asia.

This model of regional autonomous security cooperation will become an indispensable and important part of the future international security architecture.