Prime Minister: Armenia Will No Longer Rely on Russia

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan indicated that his country "can no longer rely on Russia as its main defense and military partner, as Moscow has repeatedly let it down, and thus Yerevan must consider strengthening relations with the United States and France." Pashinyan stated, “Armenia needs to reconsider the nature of its security relationships, which it should clarify with the United States, France, India, and Georgia.” He added that "Russia let Armenia down when Azerbaijan launched a sudden military operation, regaining control over the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to the displacement of Armenians who lived there." Armenia is a small former Soviet republic bordered by Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey, and has long depended on Russia as its major ally. However, Pashinyan has angered the Kremlin by questioning the foundations of the alliance. Azerbaijan accused France of igniting a new war by supplying weapons to Armenia, which the United States is also trying to strengthen ties with.