Armenia not participating in Zapad 2025 military drills

The Republic of Armenia will not participate in the Zapad 2025 military exercises, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson, Aram Torosyan, confirmed on September 12.

He made the remarks in his interview with Armenian media, in response to previous reports from Russian media that military units from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and other partner countries will join the drills, Caliber.Az reports. 

According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, the exercises, taking place from September 12 to 16, aim to develop coalition operations and showcase the close defence ties between Moscow and Minsk, as well as Russia’s military capabilities. Activities are being conducted across Belarus and Russia, including the Baltic and Barents Seas.

Armenia’s decision follows a February–March 2024 announcement by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that the country would “freeze its participation” in the CSTO. The freeze includes skipping CSTO summits and military exercises, effectively suspending Armenia’s engagement in CSTO processes.

The Zapad drills are taking place amid heightened regional tensions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that the exercises could serve as a “cover” for potential attacks on countries further west.

In response, Poland has deployed approximately 40,000 troops to its borders with Belarus and Russia following a large-scale drone incursion on September 10.

By Sabina Mammadli