Yerevan Expects Relations With U.S. To Reach Strategic Partnership Level

U.S. and Armenian national flags (file photo)

Armenia expects to eventually elevate its relations with the United States to the level of strategic partnership under the new administration in Washington, a senior diplomat in Yerevan said.

Commenting on the victory of the Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump in America’s November 5 presidential election, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service on Thursday that relations between Armenia and the United States have stable institutional foundations regardless of which party holds power in Washington.

“This year it was already announced that Armenia and the United States are working to raise the level of their relationship from a strategic dialogue to a strategic partnership, and intensive steps are being taken in this direction,” Kostanian said. “I am confident that even under the new administration, this work will continue successfully and will be completed.”

According to the diplomat, efforts are currently underway to expand the bilateral cooperation agenda, including deepening economic relations between the two states.

Asked about the Armenian government’s diplomatic engagement with the team of the Republican candidate in the U.S., Kostanian said: “Of course, both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our various partners have maintained contacts with both the Democrats and Republicans.”

Both the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates in the U.S. addressed issues of concern to the local Armenian community during their campaign.

Trump voiced support for the ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, accusing the current U.S. administration of failing to prevent last year’s forced exodus of the region’s Armenian population. He promised to “protect persecuted Christians” and “work to stop the violence and ethnic cleansing,” pledging to restore peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Kamala Harris also reached out to the Armenian community in the U.S., pledging to “continue to support Armenia” and stating that Karabakh Armenians have a legitimate right to “return safely” to their home region, which Azerbaijan took full control of militarily in September 2023.

Unlike previous presidential campaigns, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), one of the most influential Armenian advocacy organizations in the U.S., this time refrained from endorsing either candidate.