Country’s Status in Putin’s Version of NATO in Doubt

(NewsWorthy.news) – Confusion about the status of Armenia in a multi-national security association has persisted as the country recently rejected rumors that it was leaving the alliance.

In addition to ongoing uncertainty about where Armenia stands with the group, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) remains the alternative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) that has been embraced and led by Russia, with President Vladimir Putin.

The lack of transparency comes after Armenia’s prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, reportedly informed legislators that the country should “get out” and that the government would “decide when.” His comments were made on Wednesday June 12 in response to a question posed by an opposing member of parliament.

Ararat Mirzoyan, foreign minister of Armenia, later clarified to the parliament that it will be up to the nation’s authorities to determine when to leave the CSTO. He said that Armenia “will not go back” to the alliance and that Pashinyan said the government would choose “when to withdraw” but did not say that the country is leaving immediately.

The prime minister announced in February that Armenia was pausing its participation in the alliance due to growing frustration of what was seen as a lack of support from Russia, amid a conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The latter launched an offensive into the contested region of Nagorno-Karabakh that was not interfered with by Russia, much to the frustration of Armenia.

Pashinyan said earlier this year that the CSTO “has not fulfilled” its promises related to his country. Specifically, during 2021 and 2022, he said that the country could no longer count on Russia for defense and security assistance.

Along with its recent confirmation that it will, at some point, withdraw from the CSTO, Armenia accused the alliance of the lack of support in protecting the nation from aggression from Azerbaijani and warning it would leave if Russia did not strengthen alliance ties with the European Union and the United States.