CSTO: Unfriendly steps by West around Armenia could lead to  escalation

ArmInfo. Unfriendly military and political steps by Western countries around Armenia could lead to further escalation in the region. This was stated by Viktor Vasiliev, the current Chairman of the CSTO Permanent Council, at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum.

"The situation in the South Caucasus should be addressed separately,  including in light of the elections in Armenia. US plans to  supposedly ensure the security of the Zangezur Corridor, EU  countries' intentions to incorporate Armenia into their military  structures, as well as other unfriendly steps in this region, will  ultimately lead to further escalation. We are monitoring the  situation," he noted, according to TASS.

As a reminder, Armenia has been boycotting CSTO events since the end  of 2022. In February 2024, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan  declared that Armenia had effectively frozen its participation in the  CSTO, as the organization had failed to fulfill its obligations to  Armenia, which would inevitably have consequences. And on September  18, 2024, at the Second World Armenian Summit, Pashinyan declared  that the CSTO posed threats to Armenia's security, its continued  existence, sovereignty, and statehood.