Armenia, CSTO Involvement, and Regional Security Dynamics
The Armenian Security Council secretary, Armen Grigoryan, explained that Armenia’s membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization, or CSTO, reflects a mix of challenges and strategic choices. He emphasized that Armenia does not view CSTO membership as a barrier to engaging with other partners. The remarks were reported by an Armenian media outlet, Channel One.
Grigoryan noted that Armenia’s participation in the CSTO can create certain tensions, yet it does not prevent the country from pursuing cooperation with a wide range of partners. He said that Armenia is actively strengthening security ties with Western partners and intends to continue that collaboration. This reflects a broader policy aim to diversify security assurances and reduce overreliance on any single security bloc.
The official also cautioned that obtaining significant CSTO support for Armenia could be difficult in the period after 2020. He pointed to three major Azerbaijani assaults against Armenia since 2020, arguing that the CSTO has not delivered meaningful assistance in those episodes. This assessment underscores a perception among Armenian leaders that the military and political value of CSTO backing has been limited in recent years.
Grigoryan criticized the CSTO’s current posture, describing it as not highly reliable during ongoing regional tensions. He explained that the CSTO established a mission to document facts related to the Nagorno-Karabakh events, a move that followed the deployment of an alternative EU monitoring framework in Yerevan. The shift signals Armenia’s interest in independent verification and external oversight as a counterbalance to bloc-based responses.
In interviews and public statements, Grigoryan has highlighted a broader strategy: Armenia is actively seeking a diversified security framework. This includes maintaining robust relations with Western partners while staying within the CSTO framework, a balance aimed at preserving strategic flexibility and national sovereignty. The discussion reflects a wider regional conversation about security alliances, how they function in practice, and what smaller states expect from major security arrangements in times of rising regional tensions. It also points to a growing emphasis on multi-vector diplomacy as Armenia navigates its security needs in a changing geopolitical landscape.
These developments come as Armenia continues to evaluate the effectiveness of collective defense pacts in the current security environment. Observers note that the country’s approach illustrates a broader trend in which states seek to diversify security guarantees, engage with international institutions beyond traditional blocs, and pursue independent monitoring mechanisms to ensure accountability and timely information in times of crisis.
Analysts suggest that Armenia’s strategy may influence how neighboring states and regional partners structure their own security postures. By pursuing a mix of CSTO engagement and Western partnerships, Yerevan aims to secure practical protection while avoiding overdependence on any single alliance. This approach aligns with a growing preference for resilient security architectures that combine collective defense with credible, non-bloc partnerships. (Attribution: Channel One reporting on Armenia’s security policy)