 | |
 NATO |  Armenia |
|---|---|
Armenia and theNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have maintained a formal relationship since 1992, whenArmenia joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council. Armenia officially established bilateral relations with NATO in 1994 when it became a member of NATO'sPartnership for Peace (PfP) programme. In 2002, Armenia became an Associate Member of theNATO Parliamentary Assembly.[1]
Armenia regained its independence from theSoviet Union in 1991. Since then, Armenia has pursued developing closerEuro-Atlantic ties with themember states of NATO. Armenia joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council in 1992, which was succeeded in 1997 by theEuro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC). The EAPC brings togetherNATO allies and partner countries from the Euro-Atlantic area. On 5 October 1994, Armenia became a member of thePartnership for Peace programme.[2]
TheArmenian Atlantic Association, established in 2001, seeks to promote Armenia–NATO relations. It is a full member of theAtlantic Treaty Association. In 2002, Armenia became an Associate Member of theNATO Parliamentary Assembly.[1] In 2004, Armenia established aPermanent Mission to NATO located inBrussels, Belgium.[3] In 2007, aNATO Information Centre opened inYerevan.[3]
Armenia organizes an annual "NATO Week", which raises awareness of the country's engagements with NATO.
In July 2024, Armenia participated in the NATO2024 Washington summit.[4]
On 16 December 2005, Armenia signed anIndividual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO.[5] IPAP's are plans developed between NATO and different countries which outline the objectives and the communication framework for dialogue and cooperation between both parties.[6] As part of Armenia's Individual Partnership Action Plan, Armenia and NATO cooperate in the defense sphere, improving democratic standards and therule of law, and tackling corruption.[1]
Armenia cooperates with the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC). NATO and Armenia jointly established the Crisis Management National Centre inYerevan.[1] Between 11 and 16 September 2010, in cooperation with the EADRCC, Armenia hosted its "Armenia 2010" civil emergency exercise near Yerevan, which was one of NATO's largest ever events for disaster response. Armenian rescue teams actively participate in the activities of the EADRCC and take part in various civil emergency exercises.
Since 1993, Armenia has been involved in theNATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) programme. Areas of cooperation include defense against chemical, biological, and nuclear agents, counter-terrorism, and cyberwarfare.[7]
Armenia has participated in certain NATO peacekeeping operations, including:
In February 2010, Armenia deployed approximately 130 soldiers inAfghanistan, as part of the NATO-ledInternational Security Assistance Force (ISAF). They served underGerman command protecting an airport inKunduz.[8][9]
After the end of theinvasion of Iraq, Armenia deployed a unit of 46 peacekeepers underPolish command. Armenian peacekeepers were based inAl-Kut, 100 km (62 mi) from the capital ofBaghdad.[10]
Since 2004, Armenia has been an active contributor to the NATO-led operation inKosovo and currently deploys approximately 70 peacekeepers as part of NATO'sKosovo Force.[3]
NATO member countries Countries in the process of accession Countries promised invitations | No intention for membership Countries have not announced their membership intentions |
Historically, Armenia's policies have often aligned it closer withRussia than NATO members. It is a founding member of theCollective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), an alternative Russian-led military alliance.[11] NATO support for the territorial integrity ofAzerbaijan (an ally of NATO memberTurkey) in its dispute with Armenia overNagorno-Karabakh has led to tensions with the alliance.[12]
However, several politicians and political parties have called on theGovernment of Armenia to withdraw Armenia's membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization and either seek full membership in NATO or become amajor non-NATO ally (MNNA). For example, theEuropean Party of Armenia, theFor The Republic Party, and theChristian-Democratic Rebirth Party have campaigned in favor of Armenia's membership in NATO, while theArmenian National Movement Party and theNational Democratic Pole have called for developing deeper relations with NATO.[13][14][15]
After the start ofrenewed fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan on 13 September 2022, Armenia triggered the mutual defence Article 4 of the CSTO treaty.[16][17] However, the CSTO mission sent to monitor the situation along the border took a rather uncommitted position in the conflict, leading to increased criticism towards CSTO membership inside Armenian political circles, with the secretary of theSecurity Council of Armenia,Armen Grigoryan even stating that he saw no more hope for the CSTO.[18] The lack of Russian support during the conflict prompted a national debate in Armenia, as an increasing percentage of the population put into doubt whether it is beneficial to continue CSTO membership, calling for realignment of the state with NATO instead.[19][20] This coincided with a visit fromSpeaker of the United States House of RepresentativesNancy Pelosi to Yerevan on 17 September 2022, largely seen as an effort to reorient the security alliance structure of Armenia.[21] TheHelsinki Citizens' Assembly presented a document of recommendations to Nancy Pelosi during her visit to Yerevan. One of the recommendations was to provide MNNA status to Armenia.[22]
On 23 November 2022, opposition protestors gathered in Yerevan, led by theanti-RussianNational Democratic Pole Alliance. Protestors called for the withdrawal of Armenia from the CSTO and for the country to develop closer relations with theUnited States andthe West.[23]
Some US politicians likeSam Brownback have also campaigned for Armenia to be granted MNNA status. On 21 June 2023, Brownback stated, "Armenia is a natural long-term ally of the United States. Armenia must be given Major Non-NATO Ally Status of the US".[24][25]
On 3 September 2023, during an interview, Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that it was a strategic mistake for Armenia to solely rely on Russia to guarantee its security. Pashinyan stated, "Moscow has been unable to deliver and is in the process of winding down its role in the widerSouth Caucasus region" and "the Russian Federation cannot meet Armenia's security needs. This example should demonstrate to us that dependence on just one partner in security matters is a strategic mistake". Pashinyan accused Russian peacekeepers deployed to uphold theceasefire deal of failing to do their job. Pashinyan confirmed that Armenia is trying to diversify its security arrangements, most notably with theEuropean Union and the United States.[26]
On 23 February 2024, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Armenia has frozen its participation in the CSTO. Pashinyan said "We have now in practical terms frozen our participation in this treaty" and "membership of the CSTO was under review" during a live broadcast interview.[27] On 28 February 2024, during a speech made in theNational Assembly, Pashinyan further stated that the CSTO is "a threat to the national security of Armenia".[28] On 12 March, Pashinyan said that the CSTO needed to clarify "what constitutes Armenia's sovereign territory", as the organization had not come to Armenia's defence when requested followingAzerbaijani troops crossing the border into Armenia's internationally recognized territory. Pashinyan said that if the CSTO's response did not align with Armenia's expectations, the country would officially withdraw from the organization.[29] On 12 June 2024, Armenia announced that it would formally withdraw from the alliance at an unspecified later date,[30] with Pashinyan stating, "We will leave. We will decide when to exit...Don't worry, we won't return".[31]
In May 2024, theUnited Platform of Democratic Forces called on the government of Armenia to apply forEU and NATO membership.[32]
A July 2024Gallup opinion poll noted a 7% increase in support for Armenia's membership in NATO, with 29% of respondents believing Armenia should strive for NATO membership. Meanwhile, support for Armenia's membership in theCSTO decreased by 10%, with only 16.9% believing Armenia should maintain its membership in the CSTO.[33]
In 1999, Armenian PresidentRobert Kocharyan participated in the 50th anniversary Summit of NATO inWashington, D.C.[7] In 2001, theSecretary General of NATO,George Robertson visited Armenia. In 2005, Robert Kocharyan held meetings at NATO headquarters inBelgium. In 2008, PresidentSerzh Sargsyan attended a NATO meeting inRomania and also met with Secretary GeneralJaap De Hoop Scheffer in Belgium later that year.[7] In 2009, Claudio Bizoniero, deputy Secretary General visited Armenia.[34] In 2010, Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting at NATO headquarters. In 2012, NATO Secretary GeneralAnders Fogh Rasmussen visits Armenia and meets with Serzh Sargsyan. In 2014, Serzh Sargsyan participates in a NATO Member and Partner States meeting. In 2017, Serzh Sargsyan held discussions with NATO Secretary GeneralJens Stoltenberg. In 2018, Armenian Prime MinisterNikol Pashinyan participated in a NATO summit inBrussels. In 2019, NATO's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia,James Appathurai paid a visit to Armenia and met with PresidentArmen Sarkissian and other high-ranking officials.[7] On 26 April 2022, Javier Colomina Píriz, the NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia met with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Vahe Gevorgyan. Both sides discussed deepening cooperation between NATO and Armenia.[35] On 19 March 2024, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and PresidentVahagn Khachaturyan in Yerevan.[36] Between 9–11 July 2024, Armenian Foreign MinisterArarat Mirzoyan participated in the 75th anniversary summit of NATO in Washington, D.C.[37] On 23 January 2025, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with NATO Secretary GeneralMark Rutte inDavos at the summit of the 2025World Economic Forum.[38]
| Internal relations |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Multilateral relations | ||
| Bilateral relations | ||
| Related | ||
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
