The Kremlin will convene a security council meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization on Wednesday, bringing attention to deteriorating relationships within Russia’s post-Soviet military alliance. Armenia has effectively suspended its involvement in the bloc since February 2024, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stating that the country’s interest in the CSTO has diminished. The Armenian government blamed the organization for failing to provide adequate support during its conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
The CSTO’s credibility has been called into question following multiple regional conflicts. When Armenia fought Azerbaijan in a 2020 war, neither Russia nor other member states deployed troops despite the alliance charter providing for such military aid. Similarly, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, no CSTO member states offered military backing. These failures have undermined perceptions of Russian military capability among the bloc’s members, with analysts suggesting that Russian weaponry is often older equipment repackaged as advanced technology at discounted prices.
Former Soviet nations are increasingly exploring alternative military partnerships outside the Russian-dominated framework. The Turkiye-led Organization of Turkic States, which includes Azerbaijan and several Central Asian nations, has conducted joint military exercises. Additionally, five Central Asian and Caucasus nations held collaborative drills in October 2025. Uzbekistan, a major economic power with 37 million people, has consistently resisted returning to full CSTO participation despite Russian efforts, while balancing relationships with both Moscow and Western nations.
Security concerns regarding Afghanistan represent one substantive area of consensus within the alliance. Russian officials have identified up to 23,000 fighters from over 20 armed groups operating in Afghanistan, with particular concern over the Islamic State affiliate in Khorasan Province, which has recruited heavily from Central Asia. The group was linked to a 2024 attack on a Moscow concert hall. This shared threat has prompted increased security cooperation along the Afghan-Tajik border, though analysts suggest Russia’s reduced capacity and international isolation limit its ability to enforce broader regional discipline.
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