Russian diplomat: Armenia remains CSTO member despite recent tensions

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Pankin has said that Armenia has not formally withdrawn from the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), despite recent tensions, and has no plans to exit the organisation.

While speaking to Russian media, Pankin clarified that Armenia had not notified the CSTO of any intention to leave, adding that the country remains a member, albeit with frozen participation, Caliber.Az reports.

“Yerevan has not informed us of any withdrawal; they are not planning to leave. They have frozen their activity, but they remain a member of the CSTO,” Pankin said.

While Armenia's participation is currently inactive, Pankin warned that failure to contribute to the CSTO’s budget by the end of 2025 could lead to the organisation reconsidering its options.

“By January 1, 2026, if there are two years of non-payment, countries may consider different scenarios,” he said, though he noted that it was unlikely any country would be expelled from the organisation. 

The deputy foreign minister also pointed out that other CSTO member states have previously faced financial or technical difficulties that delayed their contributions, underscoring that Armenia's situation was not unique. 

In February 2024, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that Armenia had decided to freeze its participation in the CSTO, citing growing difficulties in rejoining the organisation. He further stated that returning to full engagement was becoming increasingly "impossible" declaring that Armenia had crossed the “point of no return.” Russian officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, have suggested that Western pressures played a role in Armenia’s decision to suspend its CSTO involvement. 

However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov rejected Pashinyan’s claims that the CSTO had "abandoned Armenia in times of trouble", calling such statements inaccurate. Amid these developments, Russia continues maintaining its 102nd military base in Armenia, including the airbase at Erebuni airport in Yerevan, which remains a significant component of the bilateral defence relationship between the two nations.

The Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) is a political and military alliance formed in 1992. The CSTO’s founding members included Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan, with several other countries joining at different points.

The CSTO’s primary goals include collective defence, counter-terrorism, and peacekeeping, and it aims to ensure the security of its member states through mutual assistance in case of external aggression. The organisation operates through joint military exercises, mutual defence clauses, and shared intelligence.

While the CSTO’s influence and effectiveness have been debated, it remains a key instrument for Russia in exerting regional influence and fostering military cooperation among former Soviet republics. The organisation has faced challenges, including disagreements among members and tensions with the West, but it continues to serve as a crucial element of security and diplomacy in Central Asia and the Caucasus region.

By Naila Huseynova