Cracks in CSTO: Russia's Military Alliance Weakens

Armenia appears to be distancing itself from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Russian-led military alliance. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that it is 'more likely that Armenia will withdraw from the CSTO than return to activity.'

Armenia has already 'frozen' its participation in the organization since February 2024, accusing the CSTO of failing to defend it against attacks from Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan and Georgia withdrew in 1999, while Uzbekistan withdrew in 2012. Kazakhstan has distanced itself from Moscow after the invasion of Ukraine. Belarus, although maintaining a close relationship with Russia, has refused to send troops to Ukraine. Kyrgyzstan canceled a CSTO military exercise, while Tajikistan did not send troops to Ukraine.

The growing discontent within the CSTO reveals the weakening of Moscow's influence in the post-Soviet space.