CSTO Chief Says No Decision Yet on Armenia's Membership
CSTO chief says no decision yet on Armenia’s future in the organization
The Collective Security Treaty Organization's secretary general said no decision has been made on Armenia's membership status, despite recent comments from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan indicating he would welcome exclusion from the Russian-led security bloc.
CSSTO Secretary General Taalatbek Masadykov told Russia's TASS agency that Armenia currently participates only de facto in the organization. Yerevan does not attend CSTO meetings, has not filled allocated positions, and has not paid membership fees for three years, though it remains a de jure member.
Masadykov said any decision on Armenia's membership rests with the leaders of member states, not the CSTO Secretariat. He suggested the issue may be discussed at a November meeting in Moscow but cautioned against rushing conclusions. Armenia has effectively frozen its CSTO participation, citing the organization's failure to meet its security obligations, but has not formally withdrawn.
