Yerevan: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that Armenia’s relationship with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) has reached a ‘point of no return’. During a parliamentary session in Yerevan, Pashinyan emphasized that Armenia refrains from vetoing documents within the Russian-led alliance, as it perceives itself as no longer part of the organization, having suspended its participation.
According to Anadolu Agency, Pashinyan highlighted the mounting challenges for Armenia to re-engage actively with the CSTO, describing the situation as ‘increasingly difficult, if not impossible.’ He asserted, “I believe we have crossed the point of no return.” This statement follows his previous remarks in September, where he suggested that Armenia was approaching a breaking point in its relationship with the alliance.
The prime minister’s comments are rooted in Armenia’s dissatisfaction with the CSTO’s response to its security issues, particularly concerning the conflict with Azerbaijan over th
e Karabakh region in 2020. The ongoing tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan dates back to 1991, when Armenian forces occupied the Karabakh territory, recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan, along with seven adjacent regions.
Azerbaijan regained most of the territory during a 44-day conflict in the fall of 2020, culminating in a Russian-mediated peace agreement. This agreement has since facilitated normalization and demarcation efforts between the two nations. In September 2023, Azerbaijan solidified its sovereignty over Karabakh following an operation that led to the surrender of separatist forces in the area.