With Putin overextended in Ukraine, Armenia is turning away from Russia
US officials expanded engagement with Armenia in 2025, including a vice-presidential visit, a civil nuclear agreement, a drone package, a strategic partnership charter, a critical minerals memorandum, and a framework for a US-developed transit corridor. Russia could not stop this outreach because its capacity to police its periphery is consumed in Ukraine. Armenia has since reduced dependence on Russia: India became its largest defense supplier, border guards took over the airport and the Iranian crossing, parliament opened an EU accession path, and the prime minister moved to end the Russian rail concession.
Why it matters: This matters for the theme of Russia's influence: the Ukraine war is eroding Moscow's capacity to police the former Soviet Union, allowing Armenia to reorient away from Russia.