Armenia’s current foreign policy agenda is characterized by an attempt to balance its traditional orientation toward Russia with its aspirations to deepen relations with the West. In this context, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s visit to the U.S. represents a significant stage in Yerevan’s foreign policy strategy.
Even before the visit, both American and Armenian media speculated about a possible meeting between Pashinyan and U.S. President Donald Trump. However, it later became known that such a meeting was not planned. The Armenian leadership’s attempts to secure an audience at the highest level were unsuccessful despite the efforts of Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Armenian diaspora in the U.S., and the diplomatic corps.
As an alternative, negotiations were considered with U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. However, these initiatives also failed to gain traction. The U.S. State Department demonstrated limited interest in the visit, indicating Armenia’s diminished significance in Washington’s strategic agenda.
Due to the lack of official high-level meetings, the Armenian side relied on informal channels of engagement. In this context, an important development was the participation of Prime Minister Pashinyan’s wife, Anna Hakobyan, who arranged a meeting with the wife of U.S. Vice President Usha Vance. Vice President J.D. Vance himself held brief talks with Pashinyan, but according to official statements, the content of their discussion was more symbolic than practical.
The situation highlights Armenia’s geopolitical constraints in its pursuit of closer ties with the West. Given the economic and political instability in the region, Washington’s strategic priorities remain focused on more significant geopolitical partnerships. Armenia’s lack of substantial natural resources, such as rare earth metals, and its inconsistent foreign policy reduce U.S. interest in deepening cooperation.
Conclusion
Armenia remains in a difficult position, balancing between its membership in Russian-linked military-political and economic integration structures and its aspiration for Euro-Atlantic rapprochement. Despite official statements about strategic partnership with the U.S., Yerevan has not received the expected signals of support. Moreover, recent foreign policy developments indicate a gradual weakening of Armenia’s diplomatic influence in both Western and Eastern geopolitical spheres.
Analyzing the results of Nikol Pashinyan’s visit to the U.S., it becomes evident that Armenia’s foreign policy strategy requires revision in light of new international realities. The absence of concrete agreements, the formal nature of the meetings, and the lack of engagement from key American politicians suggest that Armenia is not currently perceived as a strategic partner by Washington. Moving forward, Yerevan will need to establish clearer priorities in its international policy, taking into account the balance of power in the region and global geopolitical trends.
