CSTO Chief: Armenia's Decision to Leave or Stay Will Be Sovereign Choice

Imangali Tasmagambetov, the Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), stated in an interview with Izvestia that Armenia's decision to remain in or leave the CSTO will be a sovereign choice made by the Armenian authorities. Tasmagambetov emphasized that CSTO member states, including Armenia, adhere to a multi-vector policy in their interactions with external players, which is their sovereign right.

The CSTO Secretary General's comments come amid speculation about a potential confrontation between Armenia and the CSTO over Yerevan's remarks about leaving the organization and getting closer to NATO. However, Tasmagambetov described such a scenario as "merely hypothetical" at the moment, noting that any issue would need to be analyzed while taking into account the resource base and actual capabilities of the sides involved.

Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had claimed that the CSTO was unreliable and made remarks about Armenia potentially suspending participation or leaving the organization, as the country has largely ignored the CSTO's major events. Despite Armenia's decision to limit its involvement in the organization's work, Tasmagambetov stated that the CSTO "fully retains its obligations to Yerevan," and the main mechanisms of interaction are still functioning.

Why this matters: Armenia's potential withdrawal from the CSTO could have significant implications for the balance of power in the South Caucasus region. As a member of the Russian-led security bloc, Armenia's decision to leave or stay will impact its relationships with other member states and external players, such as NATO.

Tasmagambetov stressed that the CSTO respects the foreign policy decisions of its member states, which interact with NATO as sovereign and independent nations. He noted that if Armenia were to leave the CSTO, it could change the balance of power in the South Caucasus, but the impact of such a decision is difficult to predict. The CSTO Secretary General emphasized that Armenia's choice will be the sovereign decision of the independent state, and the organization will continue to maintain its obligations towards Armenia in accordance with its statutory goals and principles.

Key Takeaways

• CSTO Secretary General says Armenia's CSTO membership is a sovereign choice.
• Armenia has hinted at leaving CSTO, but CSTO says it retains obligations to Armenia.
• Armenia's potential CSTO withdrawal could impact power balance in South Caucasus.
• CSTO respects Armenia's foreign policy decisions, including engagement with NATO.
• CSTO will continue to maintain obligations to Armenia if it leaves the organization.