Armenia’s Foreign Policy
On May 28, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7.
Donald Trump and Nikol Pashinyan
“Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, of Armenia, a great friend and leader, is making his country strong, wealthy, and very secure! Nikol completely shares my vision of PEACE and PROSPERITY for Armenia and the entire South Caucasus region. Our Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, just traveled to Armenia, where he advanced several important deals for both our countries. Soon, the United States and Armenia will break ground together on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, which will transform the South Caucasus and help our wonderful American energy companies gain access from Central Asia all the way to the United States. For these reasons, Nikol has my complete and total endorsement for re-election on June 7, 2026. With Nikol’s help, we will bring the United States, Armenia, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia to greater heights than ever before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
On May 26, 2026, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Yerevan. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan welcomed him at the airport. The two officials then signed three bilateral agreements.
Marco Rubio and Ararat Mirzoyan meeting in Yerevan on May 26, 2026
These three documents are:
- The Framework Agreement on Strategic Cooperation Concerning the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP);
- The Charter on a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the United States and the Republic of Armenia;
- The Republic of Armenia – United States of America Framework for Securing Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths.
Marco Rubio described the agreement as a “renewal” of the strategic partnership, stating, “This is an opportunity to chart the future of the U.S.-Armenia bilateral partnership.”
He added, “Simply put, we are laying the groundwork for economic investment that will allow Armenians to earn money and enjoy prosperity.”
With this decision, the Trump administration renewed and strengthened the Strategic Partnership Agreement with Armenia, which was originally signed in January 2025 during the final days of President Joe Biden’s administration.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
On May 28, 2026, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: “If Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announces he has a plan to ‘enrich’ Armenia, then let him show it.”
According to Russian media, during a pre-election rally, the Armenian Prime Minister had stated that Armenia is not concerned about potential increases in commodity prices if relations with Russia deteriorate, as the country aims to increase its wealth through other partnerships.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova previously said that Russia has warned Armenia about the possible termination of agreements on the supply of gas, oil products, and diamonds from Russia if Yerevan begins to join the European Union.
Normalisation of Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan
On May 28, 2026, 126 tonnes of urea fertiliser and 67 tonnes of flour were transported by rail from Russia to Armenia via Georgia and Azerbaijan. According to Azerbaijani authorities, two railcars carrying fertiliser and one railcar loaded with flour were dispatched from Bilajari station to Boyuk Kesik before continuing toward Armenia.
To date, over 28,000 tonnes of grain, 4,000 tonnes of fertiliser, 133 tonnes of aluminum, and 68 tonnes of buckwheat have been transported from Russia to Armenia through Azerbaijan and Georgia. Additionally, Azerbaijan has exported over 10,000 tonnes of diesel fuel, 979 tonnes of AI-92 gasoline, and 2,955 tonnes of AI-95 gasoline to Armenia.
On May 24, 2026, the Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Alen Simonyan, stated in a post on X: “Currently, Armenia also has a connection with the European Union through the territories of Georgia and Türkiye.” He was referring to the recent opening of the Akhalkalaki-Kars railway for Armenian exports and imports.
Alen Simonyan’s statement on X
Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan stated: “Today, Armenia has a railway connection with Russia through Georgia and Azerbaijan, and then with China through the territories of Russia and Kazakhstan. Now, Armenia also has a connection with the European Union through the territories of Georgia and Türkiye. Soon, the Armenia-Türkiye and Armenia-Azerbaijan railway links will open, followed by a connection between Armenia and Iran through Nakhchivan. We expect these developments as a result of the ‘Trump Route’ project.”
Armenia’s Domestic Policy
On May 19, 2026, the independent investigative outlet The Insider published a report alleging Russian interference in Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections, and examining the role of Russian intelligence services in the country’s political landscape. The investigation focuses in particular on businessmen Samvel Karapetyan and Gagik Tsarukyan, whose political forces were preparing to compete in the June 7 elections.
According to The Insider, after losing influence in several post-Soviet countries, Moscow has increased its focus on Armenia, making the elections a broader geopolitical issue. The report states that the Kremlin aimed to weaken Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and prevent his Civil Contract party from winning, as his government has sought closer ties with the European Union and the United States.
The publication alleges that a high-level group within the Russian Presidential Administration coordinates operations related to Armenia. It names Sergei Kiriyenko, First Deputy Chief of Staff, and Vadim Titov, head of the Department for Strategic Partnership and Cooperation. The report also claims that several officials connected to Russian intelligence services are actively involved in Armenian political activities.
The investigation highlights Russia’s use of soft-power tools, especially the Russian House in Yerevan, which is part of the Rossotrudnichestvo network. The report states that this organisation promotes pro-Russian narratives through educational and cultural programs aimed at Armenian youth.
The Insider further alleges that Prime Minister Pashinyan has been a target of Russian intelligence operations since Armenia’s 2018 Velvet Revolution. The publication claims that Russian intelligence services have tried to gather compromising information on him and undermine his political influence.
The report also addresses Armenian Foreign Intelligence Service Director Kristine Grigoryan, stating that both Russian and Western intelligence agencies have shown significant interest in her work. Citing anonymous sources, The Insider alleges that Grigoryan was invited to study at the SVR Academy in Moscow,but later built closer ties with Western partners, helping to establish Armenia’s independent foreign intelligence capabilities.
One of the investigation’s most controversial allegations involves businessman Samvel Karapetyan. The Insider reports that records for a Russian passport issued to Karapetyan in Kaluga in 1999 listed the “FSB Information Center” as his employer. The publication suggests this may indicate a relationship with or oversight by Russian security services.
A document obtained during the investigation
The investigation references an April meeting in Moscow, where, according to the report, Vladimir Putin and Nikol Pashinyan had a tense discussion. The publication states that Putin demanded the full participation of pro-Russian forces in the elections. While no names were disclosed, the conversation is known to have centred on Karapetyan.
However, Karapetyan holds citizenship in both Russia and Cyprus, and Armenian law restricts foreign citizens from participating in its parliamentary elections.
Despite this, Karapetyan has announced his intention to become prime minister.
Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of the Prosperous Armenia party and a prominent opponent of Pashinyan, is also a key figure in The Insider’s report.
The report states that Tsarukyan met regularly with senior Moscow officials and that, in 2019, his party signed a formal cooperation agreement with United Russia.
The Insider also published documents that it claims pertain to the financing of Tsarukyan’s election campaign.
The report details Tsarukyan’s background, including Soviet-era criminal cases and past accusations involving an attack on Nikol Pashinyan. Many of these incidents remain uninvestigated or legally unresolved.
The investigation immediately triggered a political scandal in Armenia.
Nikol Pashinyan publicly confirmed that international media had presented documents which, in his view, indicate Samvel Karapetyan’s ties to the FSB.
The Prime Minister asserted that foreign influence networks threaten Armenian statehood, and described the elections as a choice between “agency” and “civic sovereignty.”
He then made one of his most notable statements: “Agents, the Republic of Armenia will deal with you!”
Samvel Karapetyan denied the allegations and claimed that, “if anyone has connections to the FSB, it is Pashinyan.”
Karapetyan told local media that the Prime Minister is “an FSB agent,” and added that, ironically, he “will soon be promoted from corporal to sergeant.”