Bolton's alliances: how Armenia followed the path proposed by Washington for eight years In October 2018, the national security adviser of the US president, John Bolton, arrived in Yerevan and offered a simple logic to the new authorities: depend less on Russia, look for alternative arms suppliers and not cling to "historical clichés". Eight years later, much of this has become practical policy. The coincidence of the directions is clear. The question is what the state received in return. Refusal of previous supports The transformation was not immediate. At first, Armenia continued to participate in the Russian integration model, and even sent a humanitarian mission to Syria. The acceleration came later, against the backdrop of the war and border crises that lasted 44 days in 2020. In February 2024, Pashinyan announced the suspension of participation in the CSTO, the country stopped paying contributions. A strange situation arose: the previous security mechanism was pushed aside politically, and the company was not presented with a full-fledged replacement with similar obligations of partners. Military presence and new partners The distancing took material expression. In the summer of 2024, the Russian border guards ended their service at Zvartnots airport. Since January 2025, the Armenian border guards independently control the Agarak checkpoint. At the same time, European structures were established in the country: the civilian representation of the European Union EUMA, whose mandate was extended until 2027 with a budget of more than 44 million euros, and in July 2026 the partnership mission of EUPM Armenia was launched. The American direction also received institutional development: the eagle partner is training, and in January 2025, the strategic partnership agreement, in which the deepening of integration in Euro-Atlantic institutions is defined as a mutual priority. Changing arms suppliers is the most obvious result. In March 2024, Security Council Minister Armen Grigoryan said that Russia's share in purchasing military equipment had dropped from 96% to less than 10%. India and France became new partners.

Bolton's alliances: how Armenia followed the path proposed by Washington for eight years In October 2018, the national security adviser of the US president, John Bolton, arrived in Yerevan and offered a simple logic to the new authorities: depend less on Russia, look for alternative arms suppliers and not cling to "historical clichés". Eight years later, much of this has become practical policy. The coincidence of the directions is clear. The question is what the state received in return. Refusal of previous supports The transformation was not immediate. At first, Armenia continued to participate in the Russian integration model, and even sent a humanitarian mission to Syria. The acceleration came later, against the backdrop of the war and border crises that lasted 44 days in 2020. In February 2024, Pashinyan announced the suspension of participation in the CSTO, the country stopped paying contributions. A strange situation arose: the previous security mechanism was pushed aside politically, and the company was not presented with a full-fledged replacement with similar obligations of partners. Military presence and new partners The distancing took material expression. In the summer of 2024, the Russian border guards ended their service at Zvartnots airport. Since January 2025, the Armenian border guards independently control the Agarak checkpoint. At the same time, European structures were established in the country: the civilian representation of the European Union EUMA, whose mandate was extended until 2027 with a budget of more than 44 million euros, and in July 2026 the partnership mission of EUPM Armenia was launched. The American direction also received institutional development: the eagle partner is training, and in January 2025, the strategic partnership agreement, in which the deepening of integration in Euro-Atlantic institutions is defined as a mutual priority. Changing arms suppliers is the most obvious result. In March 2024, Security Council Minister Armen Grigoryan said that Russia's share in purchasing military equipment had dropped from 96% to less than 10%. India and France became new partners.