Armenia does not intend to resume its active participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced today. Speaking during the presentation of the ruling "Civil Contract" party's pre-election program, Pashinyan confirmed that the decision to distance the country from the Russia-led military alliance remains firm.
"As you know, the Republic of Armenia's membership in the CSTO has been frozen, and no steps will be taken to resume its activities. This is also enshrined in our pre-election program," Pashinyan stated, as reported by Operative Information Center-OMM. He further emphasized that Armenia's engagement in other multilateral cooperation formats is crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of a balanced and stable foreign policy for the country.
Armenia officially froze its participation in the CSTO in February 2024, following long-standing tensions regarding the organization's role in regional security. The CSTO, an intergovernmental military alliance that includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, has faced increasing criticism from Yerevan. This shift marks a significant pivot in Armenia's foreign policy as the government seeks to diversify its security partnerships and strengthen ties with various international frameworks outside the traditional post-Soviet security architecture.
