Armenia, which has recently moved away from Russia and closer to the West, has now signed a strategic partnership agreement with the United States that will increase security cooperation. The strategic cooperation agreement between the US and Armenia was signed in Washington by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan. In a post on his X account, Blinken said, “Today we launched the U.S.-Armenia Strategic Partnership Commission with Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to increase cooperation on issues of mutual interest. Through our strong partnerships, we can help build lasting regional security and prosperity.’’

The US Secretary of State described the agreement as a milestone in the areas of economy, defense, security and democratization. Blinken said at the signing ceremony that the United States was “committed to the United States in its efforts to defend its independence and territorial integrity. He said they support Armenia.’’

The agreement envisages US assistance for economic and military reforms in Armenia. As part of the agreement, the US will send a team of experts to Armenia to provide expert assistance in enhancing border security. The US will also begin negotiations with Armenia on civilian nuclear energy cooperation. Armenia will officially participate in the US-led International Coalition Against ISIS.

Blinken had previously attempted to achieve a lasting peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but his efforts were unsuccessful. Recalling Blinken's efforts at the signing ceremony in Washington, Mirzoyan said that Armenia is still seeking a peace agreement. “We believe that a stable and prosperous South Caucasus is in the interest of all actors in the region and the wider international community,” the Armenian Foreign Minister said.

Is Armenia moving away from Russia?

Long seen as Armenia's protector in the region, Russia's relations with the country began to deteriorate after pro-Western Nikol Pashinyan came to power as Prime Minister in May 2018. Yerevan-Moscow relations deteriorated further following the military operation that resulted in Azerbaijani control of the Karabakh region, which had been under Armenian occupation for years. Yerevan accused Russia of failing to adequately support it in the second Karabakh war.

On January 9, Armenia's parliament approved a draft law to start the process of applying for membership in the European Union (EU). Russia warned the next day that such a step would be incompatible with Armenia's membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, the Moscow-led customs bloc.

Apart from Armenia, only Ukraine has a similar agreement among the former Soviet states. In early December 2024, the Moldovan government also entered into strategic partnership talks with the United States. However, on November 30, 2024, Washington suspended a similar agreement with Georgia for “anti-democratic actions” due to the adoption of a law on “transparency of foreign influence” by the ruling Georgian Dream party.

In his press conference, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized that the results of the strategic partnership agreement between the US and Armenia are more important than the agreement itself. Lavrov said that the most productive platform for solving the security problems in the South Caucasus is the 3+3 format, which includes Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Iran.

However, Georgia refuses to join this platform. The Russian Foreign Minister said that he sees no problem in Yerevan's contacts with Western countries and the EU, but it is difficult to understand why countries far from the lands and traditions of this region say that an EU mission will ensure security in Armenia.

In a written statement released today following the signing of the agreements between Yerevan and Washington, Pashinyan said that Armenia's “balanced” foreign policy has begun to bear fruit.

Pashinyan stated that “a visible basis for mutual understanding with Turkey has been created” and that they have “constructively proposed solutions” to all the problems between them and Azerbaijan. The Armenian leader said that relations with Russia were “more pragmatic than ever” and that they focused on concrete issues without “emotional packaging”.

Stating that “new opportunities have been created for partnerships in the Middle East”, Pashinyan said that relations with Iran are “stronger than ever before”, that they have entered into a strategic partnership with the US, that they are “on the trajectory of strategic partnership” with Georgia, and that their friendship with France has strengthened and developed. The Armenian Prime Minister said that they are “closer than ever before” with the EU, adding that their relations with India have “gained new weight and meaning” and that their relations with China have “developed and deepened.’’

At the Armenia-America Strategic Dialogue in June 2024, the US and Armenian governments issued a joint statement outlining plans to elevate bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership. The US and the West are building close ties with Armenia to contain Russia and increase their influence in the South Caucasus. This agreement should be seen in this context.  The agreement covers cooperation in the political, security, defense, economic, energy, scientific, educational, cultural and humanitarian fields. It also envisages Armenia receiving US support for military and economic reforms. However, the agreement does not imply direct US intervention in a potential conflict.

Especially in the aftermath of the Ukraine war, the West and the US have increased their sanctions and containment strategies against Russia. The Yerevan government, which has not taken any concrete steps to sit at the peace table after its defeat in the Second Karabakh War, is constantly striving to expand its relations with the West and to include Western countries in the balances in the South Caucasus. The fact that France and the US are constantly arming Armenia shows that they have no peace plans for the region. Rather than bringing peace and stability to the South Caucasus region, the partnership agreement between the US and Armenia is likely to further increase tensions in the region.