Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has issued a strong warning, indicating the possibility of freezing Armenia’s participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) if the organization fails to meet its security obligations to the country. Pashinyan revealed that current contacts with the CSTO are de facto suspended, and he is considering elevating this to a de jure status.
Pashinyan expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that instead of fulfilling its security commitments to Armenia, the CSTO is causing problems for the country. During a parliamentary session, he emphasized the potential legal freeze of Armenia’s membership in the organization.
The essence of freezing relations, as explained by Pashinyan, involves the absence of a permanent representative to the alliance and non-participation in high-level events organized by the CSTO. He highlighted that Yerevan is currently de facto frozen in its membership but is prepared to formalize this status de jure.
Pashinyan, during the anniversary meeting of the CSTO Council of Heads of State in May 2022, criticized the organization for not responding to requests for help in 2020 and 2021, when, according to the Armenian side, Azerbaijani troops invaded Armenian territory.
An unanswered question remains at the core of Armenia’s concerns. Pashinyan highlighted that Yerevan has not yet received clarification from the CSTO regarding the organization’s area of responsibility in Armenia, posing a significant threat to the country’s security.
Pashinyan clarified that the freeze in relations means refraining from participating in the decision-making process within the CSTO. He reiterated that Armenia does not obstruct decision-making but refrains from active involvement due to the lack of clarity on why the country should participate.
The prime minister recalled that Armenia did not anticipate military intervention from the CSTO during the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. Instead, the expectation was for a political stance to understand the CSTO’s responsibilities in Armenia and the South Caucasus. Pashinyan stressed the importance of clarity on this issue to engage appropriate mechanisms.
“Based on the relevant documents, such a regime does not exist in the CSTO plan. We will communicate, we will find out,” Peskov said.
The backdrop to this decision traces back to Pashinyan’s announcement on February 22, where he declared the freeze of Armenia’s participation in the CSTO. The prime minister cited the allies’ failure to fulfill obligations, particularly in the years 2021–2022, as the reason behind this decision.
Armenia has consistently accused the CSTO and Moscow of not meeting their commitments. Pashinyan criticized the organization during the CSTO Council of Heads of State meeting in May 2022 for not responding to requests for help during alleged Azerbaijani incursions into Armenian territory. Subsequent appeals for assistance in 2022 were also reportedly declined by the CSTO.
Despite these tensions, Pashinyan clarified that the closure of the Russian military base in Armenia is not currently under consideration. He accused Azerbaijan of viewing Armenia as “Western Azerbaijan” and criticized its president for not seeking a peace treaty but instead allegedly attempting to annex new territories in Armenia.
While Pashinyan’s statements suggest a freeze in relations, the CSTO’s press service reported not receiving official statements from Armenia regarding this matter. The organization acknowledged the possibility of a refusal to attend meetings of alliance representatives but noted the lack of clarity on Armenia’s position on leaving the CSTO.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov echoed this uncertainty, stating that there is no clarity regarding Armenia’s position on leaving the CSTO. However, he mentioned frequent contacts with Armenian partners and emphasized the absence of such a regime in the CSTO’s plan.
Simultaneously, in response to the diplomatic developments, French Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu expressed solidarity with Armenia, assuring that Paris would provide air defense missiles if the country requires them.
As the situation unfolds, Armenia’s potential de jure freeze of CSTO membership raises questions about the future dynamics within the alliance and its implications for regional security.
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