Armenia stops financing of the CSTO

Armenia will not partake in funding the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which includes Russia and a number of other former Soviet countries.

Ani Badalyan, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry of Armenia, announced this.

According to an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, the country will not participate in funding the CSTO.

“Armenia will refrain from joining the decision of November 23, 2023 ‘On the CSTO Budget for 2024’ and thus from participating in financing the organization’s activities. At the same time, Yerevan will not object to the adoption of this decision in a limited format,” Badalyan said.

Although Armenia has not withdrawn from the CSTO, it does not participate in the organization’s activities, including joint military exercises.

Recalling the results of the second Karabakh war, President Nikol Pashinyan stated that the reason for this policy was the actual refusal of the CSTO member states to provide security support to Armenia.

Russia, Armenia, and the CSTO

According to Pashinyan, Russia has consistently pursued a policy of “diversifying relations” in the South Caucasus, which is why it refused to provide military support to the country during the recent war with Azerbaijan.

“The problem of the CSTO arose because of this, because now the CSTO and Russia are putting an equal sign and conducting an equidistant policy between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In our region, the policy of diversification of relations was launched by Russia,” Pashinyan said.

He noted that until 2012-2013, Russia’s policy was to treat Armenia as an ally and Azerbaijan as a partner.

“In 2013, Russia and Azerbaijan signed an arms purchase agreement worth several billion dollars. This is the point at which Russia started diversifying its relations with Azerbaijan. I would like to draw attention to the fact that on February 21-22, 2022, Russia and Azerbaijan signed a memorandum of strategic partnership. This memorandum emphasizes the need to harmonize policies. This is a public document, and it is being implemented in practice,” Pashinyan said.