Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Mnatsakan Safaryan stated during a press briefing at the National Assembly that the issue of Armenia’s withdrawal from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is not currently on the Foreign Ministry's agenda.
"This issue has not yet been placed before us. If there are any developments, we will inform you," he said, as reported by Sputnik Armenia.
He noted that Armenia’s position on participation in CSTO has already been declared: Armenia is not attending CSTO summits but is also not obstructing the adoption of decisions or documents. The country will not take part in the November 27 summit in Kyrgyzstan but has already given its consent to the documents being discussed and approved there.
“At this stage, this is our policy. Armenia conducts its foreign policy based on its national interests and the evolving situation. A policy of diversification and balancing has been declared. Armenia makes decisions accordingly, and we will provide further updates when necessary,” Safaryan added.
In February 2024, Armenia announced the suspension of its participation in CSTO. On April 12, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia may consider withdrawing unless the CSTO clearly defines its area of responsibility within Armenia. The CSTO later replied that its responsibility covers Armenia’s sovereign territory. On May 8, the Foreign Ministry announced Armenia would stop funding the organization. On June 14, Pashinyan said leaving the CSTO could be the next logical step. On September 18, he declared that Armenia–CSTO relations had reached an irreversible stage, citing threats to Armenia’s sovereignty. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded that CSTO is meant to protect, not threaten, its members’ sovereignty.
