Reasons behind Armenia freezing membership to CSTO unlikely to change in 2025, says intelligence report

The Foreign Intelligence Service of Armenia, in its 2025 report, said it is unlikely that in 2025 the reasons why Armenia froze its membership to the CSTO will change.

“The viability of military alliances will remain challenged. In this regard, contrary to the founding agreement regulations, the CSTO’s incapacity (non-viability) to respond to the issues in the South Caucasus that are within CSTO statutory objectives, highly likely will not change. We assess it as unlikely that in 2025 the reasons why Armenia froze its membership, will change. Based on this, we assess that the prestige of this organization will remain significantly questioned and a “food for thought” for other member states. The trend of increasing defense expenditure, arms procurement and development of the military industry by countries in and out of the region will be maintained. Therefore, a military response to problems will remain a primary modus operandi for the players of our smaller region as well. These circumstances will continue creating asymmetric risks for states with objectively small reserves of material and non-material resources such as Armenia,” the agency said.