CSTO: Conflicts within Russia's alliance reveal Moscow's weakness
Created: 09/16/2022, 10:50 p.m
By: Teresa Toth
In the dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Armenian Prime Minister is demanding military support from Russia.
But Putin's resources are scarce.
Moscow – The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia continues to escalate.
On Tuesday (September 13) the countries started fighting on their border and blame each other over who started the dispute.
More than 200 people are said to have been killed in the fighting.
The shelling also puts Russian President Vladimir Putin in trouble: he is currently unable to send support to his military ally Armenia.
Russia, which is supposed to mediate in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, said it had arranged a ceasefire - but this was broken over two days.
The two neighboring countries blamed each other for the ongoing shelling.
However, the ceasefire has been observed since Wednesday evening (September 14) – however, it is unclear how long it will last.
Conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan: Armenian Prime Minister asks Putin for help
In the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan asked the Russian military alliance for help, the US news magazine
Newsweek
reported .
The so-called Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is Russia's answer to NATO and has existed since 2002. CSTO troops were last deployed in Kazakhstan in January of this year.
Conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan: Putin could lose reputation
After the fighting began, Pashinyan invoked Article 4 of the CSTO, which states that any "aggression against CSTO member states will be regarded by the other participants as aggression against all." The CSTO met on Tuesday to discuss Pashinyan's demand discussed, but so far neither Putin nor the CSTO have agreed to send troops to support the Armenian defence.
The reason for Putin's reluctance is most likely his dwindling resources due to the counter-offensive in Ukraine.
His troops are weakened and forced to retreat in many places.
If Putin does not intervene, he runs the risk of losing his standing as a ruler.
"Azerbaijan's attack on Armenia is a nightmare scenario for Putin," Canadian author and journalist Mark MacKinnon tweeted.
“His forces are already overwhelmed and retreating in Ukraine.
Now he needs to find troops to send to Armenia," MacKinnon said.
Should Putin be unable to offer support to Armenia, it would reveal the weakness of Russia's military alliance.
Failure by Putin to provide military support to Armenia could reveal the weakness of Russia's military alliance.
© Alexandr Demyanchuk/dpa
CSTO members:
Armenia
Belarus
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Russia
Tajikistan
former members of the predecessor organization VKS: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan
also read
After Ukraine offensive: Putin threatens “tougher” answer at summit
Now even higher garbage fees?
New CO2 plan from Habeck's ministry causes an outcry
Conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is not Putin's only concern
The simmering conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan isn't the only issue Putin has to grapple with on his borders.
The recent border skirmishes between OKVS members Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan raise fears of another conflict in Central Asia.
Moscow, which had also offered to mediate in the conflict between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, called on both sides to take urgent measures to stop "any attempt at escalation".
On Friday (September 16) Kyrgyzstan announced that the countries had agreed on a ceasefire.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the two former Soviet republics have been at odds over the course of the approximately 1,000-kilometer border.
Violent clashes occur again and again, for which both blame the other side - as was the case in the fighting that flared up on Wednesday (September 14).
Two Tajik border guards are said to have been killed and several people on both sides injured.
Effects of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan on Putin: US and EU demands
The conflict between Azerbaijan, which has already flared up again, is the greater concern for Putin.
Meanwhile, the United States and the EU have also called on Russia to help settle the conflict.
"We have seen significant evidence of Azerbaijani shelling inside Armenia and extensive damage to Armenian infrastructure," said US State Department spokesman Ned Price.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was working hard to resolve the conflict and that Putin was involved in the talks.
The conflict is complicated: Despite Article 4, other CSTO members are reluctant to support Armenia.
Kazakhstan, for example, sees its relations with Azerbaijan at risk if it intervenes.
(tt)
