Armenia sets out balanced foreign policy priorities with regional peace at its core

Armenia says it will pursue a balanced foreign policy, deepen regional ties and push to institutionalise peace with Azerbaijan under its new government programme.

The Armenian government said it will continue what it calls a “balanced and balancing” foreign policy under its 2026-2031 programme, with regional normalisation and more diversified international partnerships among its key priorities.

The programme, unveiled on Thursday ahead of parliamentary debates, says the approach has helped stabilise Armenia’s external environment. It is designed to prevent imbalances in foreign relations or provide the tools to address them when they arise.

It says Armenia’s foreign policy agenda will also focus on strengthening international trade and economic ties while boosting exports. The programme identifies regionalisation as central to enabling Armenia to live securely and sustainably within its own region without relying on external support.

Regional ties and peace with Azerbaijan

Yerevan said strengthening relations with Georgia, Iran, Türkiye and Azerbaijan is a key priority.

On Azerbaijan, the government said it will continue working towards the signing and ratification of an Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations. It also plans to press ahead with border delimitation and demarcation and expand civil society contacts, business ties and bilateral trade.

Türkiye ties and border opening

The programme also pledges to work towards establishing diplomatic relations with Türkiye and opening the Armenia-Türkiye border.

It envisages operating at least two modern border crossing points, restoring and expanding transport, energy and digital infrastructure, and promoting bilateral and multilateral trade.

Cooperation with Iran and Georgia

Armenia plans to maintain an active political dialogue with Iran while expanding trade and economic ties, deepening energy cooperation and developing border infrastructure.

It also intends to expand transport routes through Iran, including the North-South and Persian Gulf-Black Sea links.

With Georgia, the government says it will implement the Declaration on Strategic Partnership while developingpolitical, trade, energy, transport and infrastructure cooperation.

Closer ties with the European Union

The government says strategic cooperation with the European Union will deepen through full implementation of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement and alignment with EU standards, building on Armenia’s 2025 law launching the process of EU accession.

It also aims to complete a visa liberalisation action plan for Armenian citizens.

U.S. partnership and regional infrastructure

Relations with the U.S. will be deepened under the strategic partnership charter and memoranda signed in August 2025.

The programme says the TRIPP project will move forward, covering at least energy and railway infrastructure and seeking to integrate Armenia more closely into major regional infrastructure projects.

AnewZ has previously covered the U.S.-backed South Caucasus route.

Partnerships with France, China and Russia

The programme also calls for deeper strategic partnerships with France and China and a transformed and strengthened partnership with Russia under the new conditions of regional peace.

Cooperation with India is also set to expand in areas including the economy, defence, transport, education, culture, healthcare and information technology.

Wider international engagement

Armenia also plans to further develop strategic relations with the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Germany, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Croatia and Lithuania.

It intends to expand cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union and remain active in the UN, Council of Europe, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), CIS, La Francophonie and European Political Community.

The programme also says Armenia will continue its work on the Board of Peace initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump and pursue membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Expanding Armenia’s diplomatic reach

The government said it would strengthen relations with countries across the Middle East and Africa, forge new ties and gradually expand Armenia’s diplomatic presence abroad and within international organisations.

Read more:

• Armenia and Azerbaijan peace
• Armenia seeks normalisation with Azerbaijan and Türkiye
• TRIPP corridor: U.S.-backed South Caucasus route

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Armenia Azerbaijan Türkiye foreign policy South Caucasus European Union United States Nikol Pashinyan