The National Interest: Can Russia revitalize the CSTO?

Russia enters the CSTO chairmanship at a time when the organization faces many problems that could complicate Putin’s ability to deliver on the extensive proposals, The National Interest writes.

The CSTO continues to face a mixture of criticism and skepticism. It has failed to come to the aid of its member-states, like Armenia. Meanwhile, Russia’s war in Ukraine has drawn away the attention and resources of the organization’s most powerful member. Time will tell if Russia can successfully reinvigorate the alliance.

Should Russia follow through on its proposals for the CSTO, it will bolster this alliance. Otherwise, Russia’s 2026 chairmanship will simply prolong the survival of a struggling military alliance.

The war in Ukraine restricts Moscow’s ability to follow through on its proposals in CSTO. When answering questions at the CSTO Summit in November 2025, President Putin admitted that the war in Ukraine was having a negative impact on Russia’s capabilities in the alliance: “It is perfectly clear that amid the special military operation, our capabilities for some components are currently not great. That is to say, they are substantial, but we must meet our own needs.”

The alliance has always struggled with delivering peace and security to the member states, with an inadequate response to the latest Nagorno-Karabakh clash leading to Armenia suspending its participation.