Armenian PM Pashinyan Says CSTO Membership Restoration is Unlikely

Pashinyan explained that Armenia has effectively frozen its participation in CSTO activities, meaning it no longer participates in discussions or approves any documents.

Photo: X social media platform

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has stated that restoring the country's membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) is becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible. 

He emphasized that Armenia is no longer interested in engaging with documents adopted by the organization, The Caspian Post reports, citing Russian media.

Pashinyan explained that Armenia has effectively frozen its participation in CSTO activities, meaning it no longer participates in discussions or approves any documents. Armenia considers itself outside the organization and does not exercise a veto, he added.

This shift reflects Armenia's growing discontent with the CSTO, particularly after its lack of support during the 2020 Karabakh war and border clashes with Azerbaijan in 2022. Armenia formally distanced itself from the CSTO in 2024 by suspending its financial contributions to the bloc. 

Pashinyan has repeatedly criticized the CSTO for its failure to offer military assistance, a sentiment echoed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in November 2024. Putin remarked that the CSTO was not obligated to intervene militarily during the Karabakh conflict, as there was no external aggression against Armenia.