Armenia: Political Developments and International Relations
Armenia is a landlocked country located in the Caucasus region of Western Asia, bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the south.
Its capital and largest city is Yerevan, which houses approximately one-third of the national population of roughly 3 million.
Historically, Armenia is recognized as the first state to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, with the Armenian Apostolic Church being the world’s oldest national church.
The country is known for its ancient history, rich culture, and rugged landscapes, often associated with the biblical story of Noah’s Ark, with Mount Ararat dominating the skyline from Yerevan, though it is located in Turkey.
The security situation along Armenia’s eastern border with Azerbaijan remains highly volatile, with periodic outbreaks of violence and occasional ceasefire violations.
Tensions between the two countries have persisted for decades, particularly over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Despite these tensions, diplomatic efforts have been made toward normalization, including an August 2025 summit in Washington with President Donald Trump and a recent meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders in Abu Dhabi, aimed at advancing a U.S.-brokered peace deal. In January 2026, Azerbaijan released four Armenian prisoners, which officials in Yerevan described as a significant step in peace efforts.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Armenia on Monday, February 9, 2026, marking the first visit by a sitting U.S. vice president or president to the country.
This visit is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to advance a U.S.-brokered deal to resolve the conflict with Azerbaijan.
During his visit, Vice President Vance met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Armenia and the United States also signed a bilateral agreement to enhance cooperation in the civilian nuclear sector.
Perspectives
Armenia’s Alignment with the West
Armenia is increasingly reorienting its foreign policy away from Moscow and towards the West.
The Armenian leadership has expressed interest in rapprochement with the European Union, reflected in a law adopted in April 2025 regarding Armenia’s accession to the EU.
Armenia has been working to strengthen its ties with the West, with Washington and Jerusalem reassessing strategic landscapes and regional partnerships.
The United States has promised security guarantees to Armenia, with the potential for Armenia to gain EU membership and millions of dollars from customs services.
Concerns Regarding Western Alignment and Russian Relations
Armenia faces an intensifying wave of disinformation and hybrid attacks, with media experts pointing to Russia as the source, as Yerevan shifts its foreign policy.
Russia respects Armenia’s sovereign right to choose its partners but stresses that membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is not compatible with joining the European Union.
Russian officials believe that Armenia’s actions regarding EU accession indicate the beginning of its withdrawal from the EAEU.
Some perceive Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan as a ‘western tool’ for weakening Armenia’s sovereignty and aligning with the West, despite Armenia’s traditional alliances with Iran and Russia.
Internal Political and Social Developments
An insurgent political party, Strong Armenia, has proposed establishing a ‘Ministry of Sex’ to address female dissatisfaction and declining birth rates, a plan criticized by some as ‘sexist’.
Armenian authorities reported thwarting an attempted coup allegedly orchestrated by a Catholic archbishop, involving over a thousand conspirators and evidence of weapons.
Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, currently imprisoned, warned the International Religious Freedom Summit that the Armenian Apostolic Church is under existential threat and called for U.S. Vice President Vance’s intervention.
Armenia / U.S. Relations
The United States officially recognized Armenia’s independence on December 25, 1991, and established diplomatic relations on January 7, 1992.
Since then, the U.S. has supported Armenia in various endeavors, including efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully, reopen borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey, and promote regional prosperity.
The U.S. has several trade agreements with Armenia, such as the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) and a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), which were ratified by the Armenian parliament in September 1995 and became effective in early 1996.
On January 14, 2025, Armenia and the United States signed a Strategic Partnership Commission charter in Washington, D.C., elevating the status of their bilateral relations.
This charter builds upon the Armenia-U.S. Strategic Dialogue, which began in 2019, and includes provisions for cooperation in the economy, trade, transport, energy, defense, security, democracy, justice, and cultural exchanges.
The U.S. has also provided assistance to Armenia to enhance its economic resilience, foster advanced technologies, and strengthen trade, energy, and food security.
The U.S. has actively intervened in the long-standing dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
On August 9, 2025, President Donald Trump hosted the Azerbaijani president and the Armenian prime minister at the White House, where they signed a peace declaration aimed at resolving decades of tensions.
This declaration reportedly includes the establishment of a transit corridor through Armenia, referred to as the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity,” intended to link Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave.
Perspectives
Armenia’s Shift Towards Western Allies
Armenia has shown a clear intent to move closer to the Western orbit by signing the Strategic Partnership Commission charter with the U.S., signaling a departure from its historical reliance on Russia and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
The U.S. has pledged security guarantees for southern Armenia and has offered potential EU membership and economic aid in exchange for Armenia’s withdrawal from the Russian-led CSTO alliance.
The U.S. is working to reduce Russian influence in the region by improving its relationship with Armenia and has increased contacts with Yerevan across various sectors.
Concerns Regarding U.S. Influence and Corridor Control
Some observers express concern that the U.S.-brokered transportation corridor, while presented as beneficial, might lead to Armenia having limited control and economic power over its own territory, effectively becoming an “American lease” corridor.
The framework for the peace deal does not address Azerbaijan’s opposition to Armenia conducting passport, border, or customs control within the proposed Zangazur corridor, even though it would run through Armenian land.
Armenia’s options for a security guarantor are limited; while the U.S. is a possibility, it would likely require Armenia to relinquish territory, and Turkey, another potential guarantor, is allied with Azerbaijan.
