Russian ally rejects to host exercises for army alliance

(MENAFN) Armenia has no strategies to host army drills involving the members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in 2023, the nation’s Premier Nikol Pashinyan made a statement on Tuesday.

Talking at a press conference, Pashinyan remarked on what he called a “communication failure” over the joint exercises. The premier said that Armenia’s Defense Ministry “had informed the CSTO joint headquarters in writing that we consider it inappropriate to conduct CSTO exercises [on the nation’s territory] in the current situation”.

“Therefore, at least this year, such exercises will not be held,” he also said without giving extra information.

Earlier in January, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced many joint drills, in which foreign forces might join. It added at the time that Armenia would host the exercise involving CSTO peacekeeping commissions, called “Indestructible Brotherhood-2023.”

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