U.S. seeks to bolster Pashinyan government amid falling approval ratings, analyst says

Political analyst Suren Surenyants on Tuesday accused the United States of attempting to shore up Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government in pursuit of broader geopolitical objectives in the South Caucasus, including efforts to counter Russian and Iranian influence in the region.

In a social media post, Surenyants, a parliamentary candidate affiliated with the Prosperous Armenia Party, stated that Washington is seeking to preserve Armenia’s current leadership amid an ongoing decline in public support for the ruling Civil Contract party.

The remarks came ahead of a scheduled meeting between Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which the two officials were expected to sign a memorandum of understanding. According to the U.S. State Department, Rubio was due to meet Mirzoyan at Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport at 3:30 p.m., with the signing ceremony set for 4 p.m. The contents of the memorandum have not been disclosed publicly.

Surenyants claimed recent polling suggests Armenia’s opposition parties collectively enjoy greater electoral support than Pashinyan’s team. He further alleged that Western governments are concerned that a victory by pro-Russian forces in the June 7 elections would represent a significant geopolitical gain for Moscow and a setback for both the United States and the European Union.

According to Surenyants, Rubio’s visit is likely to be portrayed by the Armenian government and its supporters as a signal of continued U.S. backing for Pashinyan. He also warned that Armenia risks becoming a geopolitical battleground between Russia and the West, describing the country as a potential “proxy war” zone with serious implications for Armenian statehood and regional stability.

The analyst pointed to recent remarks by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who reiterated that Armenia currently benefits from highly preferential Russian energy prices due to its membership in the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Peskov suggested such arrangements could be reconsidered if Armenia were to deepen integration with the European Union.

“Russia remains a reliable and responsible supplier of energy resources, especially for its close allies and partners,” Peskov said, while emphasizing that preferential pricing structures would be incompatible with participation in alternative integration frameworks such as the EU.

Surenyants concluded by urging Armenian voters to oppose Pashinyan’s government in the upcoming elections, arguing that continued alignment with Western powers could undermine Armenia’s strategic relationship with Russia and strengthen Turkish and Azerbaijani influence in the region.