2 minute read
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has reiterated that Yerevan will not unfreeze its activities in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), saying that it no longer has any interest in the organization.
Prime Minister Pashinyan addressed the issue during parliamentary discussions on the government’s 2026-2031 program.
Addressing a question about the possibility of Armenia withdrawing from the CSTO over the next five years, the prime minister said that the organization has provided no answers to the questions raised by Armenia and, consequently, Armenia’s interest in the CSTO has been exhausted.
“It is clearly stated in our program that we have no plans to return to the CSTO over the next five years. I can say with certainty that we will not step up our activities in the CSTO. I know that there are discussions in the CSTO and that they may expel our country from the organization. I would be very happy if the organization decided to expel Armenia from the CSTO. It would free us from the dilemma of whether or not to withdraw,” Pashinyan said.
The CSTO is a military alliance of several former Soviet states, namely Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Armenia has frozen its participation in the CSTO since early 2024, citing the bloc’s failure to fulfill its security commitments.