Armenia-Russia Military Cooperation Drops from 96% to Below 10% Due to Unfulfilled Contracts
Armenia's military collaboration with Russia has dramatically declined, dropping from 96 percent to less than 10 percent, according to Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Grigoryan revealed that this reduction was primarily due to Russia's decision to halt weapon supplies to Armenia.
Grigoryan highlighted that Russia has not fulfilled its contractual obligations to supply weapons and ammunition to Armenia, despite ongoing agreements signed in 2021 and 2022. "It was Russia that decided not to supply weapons and ammunition [to Armenia]. By the way, they have not yet fully fulfilled what was stipulated by the contracts," Grigoryan said. This decision has perplexed Armenian officials, especially since Russia often criticizes Armenia for purchasing weapons from other countries.
The future of Armenia's security relationship with Russia now hinges on how Russia addresses these issues. Grigoryan emphasized that the current state of affairs is contingent on Russia's response to the existing problems. "How our relations with Russia will develop in security depends on how Russia will respond to all the problems that exist," he stated.
When questioned about the reasons for Russia's failure to deliver the contracted military supplies, Grigoryan mentioned that Armenia has received explanations pointing to the ongoing war in Ukraine as the main reason. However, he also hinted at another potential reason. A high-ranking Armenian official was reportedly told that if Russia supplied weapons to Armenia, it would lead to a tougher stance from certain unspecified parties. This added a layer of complexity to the already strained military relations between the two countries.
Since 2022, Armenia has consistently accused Russia of not fulfilling its contractual commitments. In January 2024, Armenia's Minister of Finance, Vahe Hovhannisyan, announced that the main issues related to purchasing weapons from Russia had been resolved. However, the reality seems to contradict this statement, as the Armenian authorities have reiterated that Russia has not delivered the weapons and military equipment outlined in the contract. While the exact amount of money involved has not been officially disclosed, estimates range from $250 million to $400 million.
The significant reduction in Armenia's military cooperation with Russia marks a critical shift in the relationship between the two countries. With Russia's decision not to fulfill its weapon supply contracts, Armenia's security strategy is in flux. The Armenian government's repeated calls for Russia to meet its obligations reflect the ongoing uncertainty and the need for a clear resolution to this issue.
