Armenia lost its security guarantees due to government’s unclear goals, ex-official says

Armenia has lost its international security guarantees because the government has failed to clearly define its objectives beyond harming the country, former Deputy Defense Minister and Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) member Artak Zakaryan said on Friday.

Speaking at a discussion on national security threats, Zakaryan recalled that Armenia’s 2007 national security strategy had ensured stability by addressing the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) issue, the diaspora, the church and foreign policy. He argued that the 2020 revision of the strategy weakened Armenia’s security environment and was followed by war and the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023.

Zakaryan warned that Western powers are drawing Armenia into geopolitical conflicts that pit it against Iran, China, India, Turkey and Russia. He urged the development of a new national security strategy and a defense model focused on technological and cyber domains, stressing the need to counter Azerbaijan in all areas.

“Armenia lost its guarantors because until now the government has not clearly stated its purpose, except to harm Armenia,” Zakaryan said.