The Council of the European Union has approved for the first time assistance under the European Peace Facility (EPF) to support the Armenian armed forces in the amount of €10 million.
The decision comes as Armenia seeks to distance itself from Russia and strengthen its ties with the West. Ambassadors EU also approved the start of a dialogue on issuing visas to Armenia.
The EU financial support aims to strengthen the logistical capacity of the Armenian armed forces and improve the protection of the civilian population during crises and emergencies, as well as to prepare the interoperability of Armenian forces in case of the country's participation in future international military missions, including those deployed by the EU.
The support will provide a full-fledged tent camp for one battalion. During the meeting of foreign ministers, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell noted that security is a component of bilateral relations with Armenia, the importance of which is growing. “This event of the European Peace Facility will contribute to the country's resilience. We have a mutual interest in further expanding our dialogue on foreign and security policy, also taking into account Armenia's future participation in EU-led missions and operations,” — Borrell noted. According to the statement of the EU Council, support for Armenia is provided within the framework of a bilateral partnership based on shared values and aimed at promoting peace, stability and prosperity in Armenia and the South Caucasus.
At the end of December 2023, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Ararat Mirzoyan stated on deepening Armenia's relations with the EU. On July 18, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Uzra Zeya announced that the United States would send a resident adviser to the Armenian Defense Ministry. She called the event long-awaited and noted that American authorities welcome “deepening cooperation in the field of defense and civil security between the United States and Armenia.”
On July 10, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan accepted participation in the NATO summit. On July 4, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory telegram to US President Joe Biden on the occasion of US Independence Day and stated that Armenia and the US expressed their readiness to raise the level of relations to a strategic partnership.
In mid-June, Pashinyan announced that Armenia would withdraw from the Collective Security Treaty Organization. According to him, the former Armenian authorities entered the “bubble block,” and then it turned out that he did not protect Armenia.
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