Defense Ministry on Armenia’s participation in CSTO exercises in 2024

In response to Sputnik Armenia’s inquiry, the Armenian Defense Ministry commented on the country’s participation in the exercises of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in 2024.

“Each member of the organization decides whether or not to participate in the CSTO exercises directly at the stage of announcing the exercises,” the Defense Ministry said.

In November 2023, Colonel General Anatoly Sidorov, then Chief of the Joint Staff of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, announced that the CSTO exercises would be held in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in 2024. Exercises with the Collective Rapid Reaction Force are planned in Kyrgyzstan, while exercises with peacekeeping forces are scheduled to take place in Kazakhstan.

Armenia refused to participate in the CSTO military exercises “Indestructible Brotherhood” in Kyrgyzstan on October 9-13, 2023. The Armenian authorities do not attend the organization’s meetings either.