On 23 February 2024, Armenian Prime Minister Nicol Pashinyan announced Armenia’s suspension of its membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) due to the organisation’s inability to fulfil its security mandate of safeguarding Armenia in the event of an armed conflict. This step was taken following Azerbaijan’s attack on the Kapan municipality’s Nerkin Hand and Srashen villages in the Syunik district of Armenia. This was the latest military invasion launched by Azerbaijan after establishing control over Nagorno-Karabakh which it had taken control in 2023.

These events and inability of CSTO to defend Armenia have strained ties between Armenia and the regional organisation and to that effect, has put the country at odds with Russia, the most prominent CSTO member. The worsening ties could reduce organisational influence and its relevance as a security provider in the Caucasus. Given these developments, it is open to question if the CSTO can continue to play a vital role in upholding member countries’ sovereignty and preserve the regional security architecture amid increasing geopolitical complexities.

The CSTO, established in 2003, comprises Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Its role was defined as that of a security provider and in maintaining regional stability and territorial integrity of these countries. These objectives were highlighted mainly because the region was already suffering from historical turmoil amongst the states, including border disputes between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and the Armenia and Azerbaijan conflict.1

Articles 2 and 4 of its charter underline its primary........

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