Armenia has announced that it will no longer contribute to the funding of the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization). The foreign ministry spokesperson, Ani Badalyan, stated that Armenia will not participate in financing the organization’s activities as outlined in the budget. However, they do not object to the approval of the organization’s 2024 budget in a limited format.
Relations between Armenia and Russia have been strained for some time now, especially after Azerbaijan’s attack in September 2022. Despite Armenia’s calls for condemnation of the attack by the CSTO, the organization has not taken action. As a response, Yerevan rejected the proposal to deploy CSTO observers on the border. Prime Minister Pashinyan announced in 2024 that Armenia’s membership in the bloc was de facto frozen, and there is a possibility that Armenia may leave the bloc.
Armenia’s decision to stop funding CSTO activities reflects tensions between them and Russia, particularly with recent events coming into play. The CSTO consists of six member countries: Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Belarus. It is evident that this move by Yerevan will have significant consequences for both parties involved.