Armenia looks to build security ties with the U.S. and its allies

Nikol Pashiniyan, the prime minister of Armenia, has claimed that his country needs to review its relationship with Russia as its main defense and military partner after a series of setbacks.

The landlocked nation of 3 million people is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) alliance of former Soviet satellites, alongside Belarus and the four states of Central Asia. As part of its membership, Armenia hosts a Russian military base in its second largest city Gyumri and other so-called Russian "peacekeeping facilities" across the country.

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However, relations between Moscow and Yerevan have hit a new low after the loss of the disputed enclave of Nagorno Karabakh to Azerbaijan in a sudden offensive last September.

It's claimed around a 100,000 Armenian residents were forced from their homes in the region in less than 48 hours, in what Pashinyan called an act of "ethnic cleansing."

"This cannot go on"

Just ahead of the assault by Baku, Armenia's first lady Anna Hakobyan visited the Zelenskyys in Kyiv. Pashinyan's wife delivered over a thousand smartphones and laptops for Ukrainian schoolchildren unable to attend class to help aid their online learning. 

Prime Minister Pashinyan has previously stated that his country does not support Russia's campaign in Ukraine. Now he appears to have gone further.

Speaking on Armenian Public Radio he said that "95 to 97 percent of (Armenian) defense relations used to be with Russia. Now this cannot go on. Armenia should instead think about what kind of security ties it should build with the U.S., France, India, and Georgia."

ICC Membership

Moscow has noted a perceived drift by Yerevan towards the EU in recent years. The Armenia–EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement aimed at enhancing bilateral political and economic ties took effect in March 2021 after four years of delays.

Last month Pashinyan held talks with Javier Colomina, the NATO Secretary General's special representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia. Then on January 31 this year, Armenia formally joined the International Criminal Court in the Hague. It means Yerevan is technically obliged to arrest Russia's President Vladimir Putin, who has had a warrant issued for his arrest over war crimes by the ICC.

Moscow has issued an arrest warrant for the ICC prosecutor for the "criminal prosecution of a person known to be innocent" - in reference to the charges against Putin.

In response to Pashinyan's comment, the Kremlin has blamed the Prime Minister himself for the loss of Nagorno Karabakh and accuses the west of trying to drive a wedge between the Caucasus nation and Russia.

When asked about the military support offered by CSTO membership, Pashinyan replied, "We need to strengthen our army, make it combat-ready in order to protect the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of our country, so no one can tell us 'Why are you doing this?'"

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