Armenia and U.S. Establish Strategic Partnership Commission

Washington, DC — The United States established a strategic partnership commission with Armenia on Tuesday, marking a milestone in relations between the two countries.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan signed the document during a ceremony in Washington.
Blinken explained that the strategic partnership commission will aim to broaden economic, security, defense and democracy development cooperation with Armenia in international relations.
“We are establishing a US-Armenia Strategic Partnership Commission. This Commission gives us framework to expand our bilateral cooperation in a number of key areas economic matters, security and defense, democracy, justice..” Blinken said.
The Secretary of State also said that the U.S. is working with Armenia to strengthen its sovereignty and defense of territorial integrity.
Blinken announced that next week a special team of border security agents will travel to Armenia in order to coordinate the defense of Armenia’s borders.
“Next month, in the coming weeks, we will have a Customs and Border Patrol team travel to Armenia to work with their Armenian counterparts on border security capacity building, strengthening security cooperation, enhancing Armenia’s peacekeeping capabilities through exercises like Eagle Partner. We had a bilateral training exercise, Eagle Partner, that’s been done annually for the past two years. All of this is enhancing Armenia’s capacity to be a strong partner as well as to mind its own borders,” Blinken explained.
Speaking about Armenian-American economic and energy cooperation, Blinken said, “We are currently moving toward negotiations on peaceful nuclear security and nuclear energy.”
“I just want to underscore that it really lays the foundation for even deeper cooperation, and it builds on our shared principles. We are increasingly strong partners, and I think that is for the good of both of our countries as well as the good of the region and beyond. And this charter, this strategic partnership that we’re signing, will, I think, contribute to a more resilient, a more peaceful, a more secure, a more independent South Caucasus,” said Blinken.
Mirzoyan expressed gratitude for Washington’s efforts in supporting the territorial integrity of Armenia and the independence of the Republic of Armenia. He said Yerevan remains committed to the peace agenda and to working closely with the U.S.
“The Armenia-U.S. Strategic Partnership Charter provides a solid foundation and makes our cooperation more ambitious. It covers various areas, including strengthening economic and energy ties, improving communications, deepening defense and security cooperation, enhancing democratic institutions, promoting justice and the rule of law, developing innovations and high technologies, and expanding people-to-people contacts,” said Mirzoyan.
Mirzoyan emphasized that relations between Armenia and the United States, grounded in shared values and mutual interests, have significantly developed in recent years.”They have matured to a point where upgrading them to a Strategic Partnership is not only fitting but essential for navigating the complex geopolitical landscape,” he added. Mirzoyan thanked Blinken and his team for their efforts in advancing cooperation between the two countries to a new level.
“We deeply value the unwavering United States support for Armenia’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Equally important is the United States support for strengthening Armenia’s democratic institutions and promoting economic resilience,” Mirzoyan said, adding that official Yerevan is ready to work with the incoming U.S. administration.
Mirzoyan also announced Armenia’s intention to join the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, “further demonstrating our dedication to combating international terrorism. We believe that collective action is essential in addressing this threat.”
“We also commence negotiations on a nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States, commonly known as 123 Agreement. It will provide a framework for cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and mark our commitment to peaceful nuclear development under the highest standards of safety, security, and non-proliferation,” Mirzoyan added.
Armenian and American officials, led by Mirzoyan and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien, held a U.S.-Armenia meeting in Yerevan last year, after which they announced the advancement of the status of the strategic dialogue to a strategic partnership.