'Historic' strategic partnership charter with U.S. to increase security and resilience, says Armenian official

Armenia believes that the strategic partnership charter with the U.S. will increase its security and resilience, a senior official has said.

In an interview with Armenpress, Vahan Hunanyan, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan’s advisor, emphasized the key importance of the Armenia-U.S. strategic partnership charter in terms of the document having enshrined the common vision of the two countries to develop relations based on common values and strategic interests.

“It is not an overstatement to say that this is truly a historic document for Armenia-United States relations, because today we can state that we are on the highest level of our relations ever since Armenia gained independence, and this was a process that had begun in 2019 during Donald Trump’s first term when Armenia and the United States established strategic dialogue, and as part of the dialogue an institutional system was created and the relationship has been developing since,” Hunanyan said when asked about the agreement, emphasizing the crucial importance of the document which “enshrines our common vision on developing the relations of our two countries based on common values and strategic interests.”

The U.S.-Armenia Strategic Partnership Commission, part of the deal, envisages meetings between Armenian and U.S. officials to further advance the relationship through various initiatives and programs.

Hunanyan highlighted the Principles of Partnership enshrined in the document, which says that the Charter is based on core basic principles and beliefs shared by Armenia and the US:

1. Support for each other’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity constitute the foundation of our bilateral relations. 2. Our friendship derives from our common commitment to democratic values and our shared belief that democracy is the chief basis for political legitimacy and therefore, stability. 3. Cooperation between democratic partners will help promote peace and stability. 4. A strong, independent, sovereign, and democratic Armenia, capable of defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of internationally recognized borders is essential for lasting regional security and prosperity. 5. Armenia’s continued democratic and economic reforms can unleash the full creative potential of its industrious citizens and thereby catalyze prosperity throughout the region and beyond. 6. The United States welcomes efforts by Armenia to deepen its political, economic, security, and social ties with other nations of the Euro-Atlantic community and broader community of democracies. 7. A dignified and durable peace is essential for a more stable and prosperous future of the South Caucasus. The United States supports the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including in the border delimitation process based upon the Alma Ata Declaration of 1991. 8. The United States supports the unblocking of regional transport communications in the South Caucasus, based on full respect for the countries’ sovereignty and jurisdiction. 9. Recognizing that the flow of goods and people across borders leads to interdependencies and mutual benefits for neighbors, the United States also intends to continue to advocate for the normalization of relations between Armenia and its neighbors.

As part of the commission the sides will explore strategic programs and interests in the investments sector to advance economic ties.

“Another important point I’d like to mention pertains to controlled technologies, because the charter states that the parties intend to launch dialogue in order for Armenia, trusted companies operating in Armenia, to gain greater access to U.S. Commerce export-controlled technology. This is highly important for our high-tech and IT companies. Food security is also a highly important point because this has great importance both in terms of the economy and resilience, and the parties will explore opportunities in this sector around investments and development of trade,” Hunanyan added.

Section III of the Charter pertains to Defense and Security.

Hunanyan said it envisages dialogue between the Armenian Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense, increase of the volume of training, strengthening of cooperation in peacekeeping area and the fight against terrorism. "During the same event [signing of charter] Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said that Armenia is joining the Global Coalition to Defeat the Islamic State, and here also we attach great importance to cooperation with the United States,” he said.

“Since we are talking about security, I’d like to touch upon another issue because there were manipulations in the experts’ circles, social media and various interviews about what this charter constitutes in terms of defense. We must say for the record that this is not a military alliance, this is not an obligation on mutual defense,” Hunanyan underscored.

“At the same time, understandably if the parties implement everything that’s enshrined in the strategic partnership charter, and I am convinced that we will do so step by step, then the general security and resilience of Armenia will significantly increase,” the official added.

Under the agreement, the United States and Armenia will begin negotiations on a civil nuclear cooperation agreement, known as a 123 Agreement, which, once concluded, will provide Armenia a platform for enhanced nuclear energy cooperation with the United States.  

Speaking about the contacts between the Pashinyan Administration and the Trump Administration, Hunanyan recalled that Prime Minister Pashinyan was the first leader in the region to hold a phone call with Trump after the latter’s victory in the election. The contact continued in Paris, during the reopening ceremony of the Notre-Dame de Paris.

“The communication channels had been established from the very beginning and then already a meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance took place during the Prime Minister’s visit to Washington, D.C.,” Hunanyan said. PM Pashinyan visited Washington to participate in the International Religious Freedom Summit and the National Prayer Breakfast.

The meeting with Vice President JD Vance wasn’t planned beforehand because Pashinyan’s trip was not an official visit. “But in the process the parties decided to meet and discuss directions of cooperation, and it was a very important and productive discussion pertaining to our bilateral agenda and the region. Why was it important? Because it is presumed that JD Vance will be Donald Trump’s successor. If I’m not mistaken Prime Minister Pashinyan was the first foreign leader whom JD Vance met with,” Hunanyan said.

The meetings and contacts “gave the opportunity to touch upon the further development of the Armenia-US strategic partnership and present our peace agenda to the new administration,” Hunanyan said, adding that “from this perspective we received a highly positive response.”

Hunanyan expressed certainty that the Armenia-U.S. ties will steadily develop.

“We highly appreciate the U.S. continual support for the establishment of peace in the South Caucasus. I think the establishment of sustainable and lasting peace in the South Caucasus is in the interests of Armenia, other countries in the region, the U.S. and overall the broader international community. This is an agenda that the Armenian government has been unwaveringly and continuously advancing. As you know, this is a narrative, a strategy, a policy that is highly important also for U.S. President Donald Trump. I am talking about his Peace Through Strength principle. He had said in his inauguration address, and by the way also during the National Prayer Breakfast, that he wants his greatest legacy to be that of a peacemaker, and in this regard we hope that also through U.S. practical support we will eventually establish sustainable, lasting and fair peace in the region,” Hunanyan added.

Full interview available in Armenian version.