Russia urges Armenia to "soberly" rethink security without CSTO

Armenia, having “frozen” its participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), should reassess how best to ensure its national security, including the option of doing so within a collective framework, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin said.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Pankin addressed Armenia’s current position in the CSTO, according to Russian media cited by Caliber.Az.

He noted that while Armenia has suspended its involvement in the organisation, it has not obstructed the CSTO’s functioning.

“Everyone understands that Armenia, which has frozen its membership in the CSTO, as they put it, does not participate in decision-making, but does not hinder it either,” Pankin stated. “And [Armenia] should probably take a sober look at the possibilities of ensuring its security, including in the collective format of the CSTO. In any case, the decision will be up to the Armenian authorities.”

Pankin also mentioned that the issue of Yerevan’s non-payment of its CSTO membership dues could come under review after December 31, 2025. However, he acknowledged that how this situation will be handled remains uncertain.

By Tamilla Hasanova