Armenia Announces Withdrawal from Military Alliance with Russia Amid Growing Tensions

YEREVAN, Armenia - In a significant move, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared on Wednesday that Armenia will formally withdraw from its military alliance with Moscow, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Pashinyan addressed the parliament, stating, "we will leave" the alliance and determining the timing of their exit.

The decision comes as tensions between Armenia and Russia continue to rise. Pashinyan accused the members of the alliance of neglecting their contractual obligations and plotting a war against Armenia alongside Azerbaijan. The CSTO, comprising six former Soviet states including Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, is often regarded as Russia's counterpart to NATO.

In his statements, Pashinyan criticized the CSTO for failing to intervene when Armenia was attacked by neighboring Azerbaijan in 2022. He also blamed Russian peacekeepers for their inadequate response during Azerbaijan's offensive in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in the displacement of approximately 100,000 ethnic Armenian residents.

As a consequence, Armenia had previously declared its intention to "freeze" its membership in the CSTO and cease financial contributions to the alliance's budget. Despite this, Moscow has insisted that Armenia will be obligated to pay its dues.

In a notable shift, Pashinyan's government has conducted joint military exercises with U.S. forces and reached out to Western nations for support in strengthening Armenia's democracy. Furthermore, there have been hints that Armenia may consider seeking future membership in the European Union. Concurrently, Russian border guards have withdrawn from their positions along Armenia's borders with its neighboring countries.

However, analysts remain skeptical about Armenia completely distancing itself from Russia due to its economic reliance on Moscow. With Russia controlling key aspects of Armenia's trade, energy, and infrastructure, a complete departure from Moscow's influence seems unlikely at this stage, according to Vasif Huseynov of Azerbaijan's AIR Center think tank.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry declined to provide further details regarding the prime minister's announcement. As tensions continue to escalate, the international community will closely monitor the implications of Armenia's withdrawal from the CSTO and its potential impact on the regional balance of power.