Russian President Vladimir Putin faces a significant setback as Armenia announces its suspension of membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), widely seen as Putin’s response to NATO.
The move comes amid mounting tensions between Russia and its allies, marking a notable blow to Putin’s leadership in the wake of ongoing conflicts and geopolitical challenges.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s declaration during an interview with France 24 on Friday was considered very surprising in diplomatic circles.
“The collective security agreement, in our opinion, was not implemented in relation to Armenia, especially in 2021-2022.
This could not remain without our attention. We suspended our participation in this agreement.
Let’s see what happens next,” Pashinyan said, according to Russian state media TASS.
Despite Armenia’s announcement, Putin has not engaged in discussions with Pashinyan regarding the country’s CSTO membership.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that there have been no formal notifications from Armenian officials, leaving Russia seeking clarification on the matter.
Armenia’s departure leaves the CSTO with only five active member states, highlighting growing instability within the alliance.
Recent years have seen various challenges, including Kyrgyzstan’s withdrawal from joint military drills with Russia and Kazakhstan’s refusal to aid Russia in circumventing Western sanctions.
Tensions between Russia and Armenia have escalated, exacerbated by conflicts and diverging geopolitical interests.
Military drills between Armenia and the U.S. have strained relations further, signaling Armenia’s shift away from Moscow’s sphere of influence.