Armenia removes Russia from list of strategic allies
Photo: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (facebook.com Mir24TV)
Russia is not mentioned as a strategic ally in Armenia’s approved government program for 2026–2031, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said, according to Arka News Agency.
Armenia and Russia are no longer allies
Following the events of September 2022 and the failure of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and Russia to fulfill their security commitments, it is difficult to speak of a strategic partnership, the politician said.
"Everything happened before your eyes. If I write 'strategic partnership,' you will ask: what happened in September 2022? Did the CSTO and Russia fail to fulfill their security commitments? They did," he said.
The approved government program for 2026–2031 states that Armenia intends to transform and deepen its partnership with Russia.
However, Russia is not mentioned as a strategic ally.
Relations between the countries
In 2024, Armenia announced that it was freezing its participation in the CSTO. Pashinyan cited the organization’s failure to fulfill its security commitments to Armenia as the reason.
Armenia’s Foreign Ministry also said that Yerevan was refraining from financing the CSTO’s activities.
However, Russian leader Vladimir Putin previously said that Armenia remains a member of the organization and supports its decisions but does not participate in its meetings.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that Armenia would officially apply for EU membership in the near future. Pashinyan clarified that a nationwide referendum on European integration would take place only after a roadmap is agreed with Brussels.
It was also reported that Armenia currently sees no grounds for holding a referendum on choosing between EU membership and membership in the Eurasian Economic Union.
In addition, during a meeting with Putin, Pashinyan boasted that his country has no political prisoners and has freedom of speech.
