Armenia will play out with the West, hiding behind the CSTO - British analyst
Armenia wants to sit on two chairs, hiding behind the CSTO security umbrella, but purchasing weapons from NATO countries. This cannot continue for long, and Russia, together with other members of the organization, will need to make a decision.
British analyst Alexander Merkouris stated this in an interview with American journalist Alexander Christopher, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“Armenia now says that it has no intention of leaving the CSTO, but they are clearly leaving it in spirit. Apparently they are now negotiating with the US and France to get weapons from those two countries, and the US is telling them, “You must close the Russian military base in Armenia,” which is there as part of the CSTO.
Essentially, the Armenians continue to hide behind CSTO security guarantees because they need the CSTO to protect them from Azerbaijan and Turkey. But at the same time they want to end their own involvement. Basically, they want to have their cake... the Russians obviously see right through this.
I think that gradually, if the Armenians continue like this, the Russians and others will simply say to them: “Look, are you in the CSTO or not? If not, then leave. If you want to stay, then take full part in this…” he noted.
“In essence, he (Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan - author) wants protection from Russia - even when he opposes the Russians. It's the kind of strategy he's been following since he became prime minister, steering Armenia toward the West, still hoping the Russians will be there, hoping the Russians will pull it out like they pulled it out of the fire every time he got into trouble,” concluded Mercouris.
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