Editing Armed Forces of Armenia (section)

== International military cooperation ==

=== Russia === 
{{See also|Armenia–Russia relations#Military union and cooperation}}
[[File:Vladimir Putin in Armenia, December 2013 (2236-20).jpg|thumb|[[Vladimir Putin]] during his visit to the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia.]]
Russia is one of the closest allies of Armenia. The [[Russian 102nd Military Base]], the former 127th Motor Rifle Division, is stationed in [[Gyumri]]. The military alliance of the two nations and, in particular, the presence of Russian troops on Armenian soil has been a key element of Armenia's national security doctrine since Armenia gained independence in 1991.<ref name="asbarez.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.asbarez.com/2009/12/17/armenia-russia-sign-arms-export-deal-2/|title=Armenia, Russia Sign Arms Export Deal|work=Asbarez News|access-date=24 December 2014|date=17 December 2009|archive-date=23 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223153057/http://www.asbarez.com/2009/12/17/armenia-russia-sign-arms-export-deal-2/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Russia stations an estimated 5,000 soldiers of all types in Armenia, including 3,000 officially reported to be based at the 102nd Military Base. In 1997, the two countries signed a far-reaching friendship [[treaty]], which calls for mutual assistance in the event of a military threat to either party and allows [[Russian border guard]]s to patrol Armenia's frontiers with [[Turkey]] and [[Iran]]. In early 2005, the 102nd Military Base had 74 tanks, 17 battle infantry vehicles, 148 armored personnel carriers, 84 artillery pieces, 18 [[MiG-29]] fighters, one battery of [[SA-6]] and two batteries of [[SA-10 Grumble|S-300]] anti-aircraft missiles. However, in 2005–2007, following an agreement on the withdrawal of two Russian military bases from Georgia, a great deal of military hardware was moved to the 102nd Base from the Russian [[12th Military Base]] in [[Batumi]] and the 62nd Military Base at [[Akhalkalaki]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]. Russia also supplies weapons at the relatively lower prices of the Russian domestic market as part of a collective security agreement since January 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsfromrussia.com/main/2003/11/12/51161.html |title=Russian supply |access-date=12 March 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051202115302/http://newsfromrussia.com/main/2003/11/12/51161.html |archive-date=2 December 2005 }}</ref>

According to unconfirmed reports by the Azeri media, Russia has supplied $1&nbsp;billion worth of arms and ammunitions to Armenia in 1996; and handed over an additional $800&nbsp;million worth of arms to Armenia in 2008–2009. According to AzerNews, the weapons in this latest transfer include 21 tanks, 12 armored vehicles, five other battle machines, a great number of rocket launchers, over 1,050 cases of grenades, nearly 7,900 types of ammunition, 120 grenade launchers, over 4,000 sub-machine guns, TNT fuses, mines of various types, 14 mine-launchers, 9 Grad launchers, five cannons, and other weapons.<ref>AzerNews [https://web.archive.org/web/20110706131008/http://www.azernews.az/site/shownews.php?news_id=9867 Russia `donates` $800m arms to Armenia] 14 January 2009</ref>

[[Officer (armed forces)|Officer]] [[Military education and training|training]] is another sphere of Russian-Armenian military cooperation. In the first years of [[sovereignty]] when Armenia lacked a military educational establishment of its own, officers of its army were trained in [[Russia]]. Even now when Armenia has a military [[college]] on its own territory, the Armenian officer [[corps]] honors the tradition and is trained at Russian military educational establishments. In 1997, 600 Armenian servicemen were being trained at Russian Military Academies: the training was conducted by the Marshal Bagramyan Training Brigade.<ref>Ministry of Defence of Armenia, [http://www.mil.am/eng/?page=11 Official Web Site]</ref>

At the first meeting of the joint Russian-Armenian government panel for military-technical cooperation that took place during autumn 2005, Prime Minister [[Mikhail Fradkov]] reported that, Russian factories will participate in the Armenian program of military modernization, and that Russia is prepared to supply the necessary spare parts and equipment. In accordance with this agreement, Armenia and Russia agreed to work together in exporting weapons and other military equipment to third countries in December 2009. The export agreement was signed by Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan and a visiting senior Russian official, Konstantin Biryulin, during a meeting of a Russian-Armenian inter-governmental commission on bilateral military-technical cooperation. The agreement envisages the two countries' interaction in exporting military production to third countries, which will help to strengthen the armed forces of the two states, and further cement the already close Russian–Armenian military cooperation.<ref name="asbarez.com"/>

A Russian-Armenian defense agreement signed in August 2010 extends Russia's military presence in Armenia till 2044 and commits Russia to supplying Armenia with modern and compatible weaponry and special military hardware at reduced prices.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.armenialiberty.org/content/article/2200677.html|title=Armenia 'Unfazed' By Azerbaijan's Growing Military Spending|work=«Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան|date=26 October 2010 |access-date=24 December 2014 |last1=Harutyunyan |first1=Sargis }}</ref>

At the beginning of 2009, Azerbaijani media published allegations that Russia had made extensive weapons transfers to Armenia throughout 2008 costing about $800&nbsp;million. On 12 January 2009, the Russian ambassador was invited to the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Azerbaijan)|Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] and asked about this information. On 21 January 2009, Russian ministry of foreign relations officially denied the transfers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://day.az/news/politics/144560.html|title=МИД России опроверг информацию о поставках Армении российского оружия на $800 млн.|date=21 January 2009|work=DAY.AZ|access-date=24 December 2014}}</ref> According to [[United States diplomatic cables leak|US diplomatic cables leaked]] in December 2010, Azerbaijani defence minister [[Safar Abiyev]] claimed that in January 2009 during his visit to Moscow, his Russian counterpart [[Anatoly Serdyukov]] unofficially had admitted to weapons transfers "after the second bottle of vodka" that evening, although officially it was denied.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/197735|title=Embassy cables: Truth about Putin and Medvedev – over a bottle of vodka|work=The Guardian|date=December 2010|access-date=24 December 2014}}</ref>

In June 2013 it was revealed that Russia has deployed in Armenia several [[Iskander-M]] ballistic missiles systems, which are stationed at undisclosed locations in the country.<ref>{{cite news|last=Harutyunyan|first=Sargis|title=Advanced Russian Missiles 'Deployed in Armenia'|url=http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/25005647.html|access-date=22 June 2013|date=3 June 2013|agency=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]]}}</ref>

=== Collective Security Treaty Organisation ===
{{See also|Armenia–CSTO relations}}
On 7 October 2002, the Presidents of [[Armenia]], [[Belarus]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Russia]] and [[Tajikistan]], signed a charter in [[Tashkent]], founding the [[Collective Security Treaty Organisation]] (CSTO) (Russian: Организация Договора о Коллективной Безопасности (ОДКБ/ODKB)) or simply Ташкентский договор (The [[Tashkent Treaty]]). [[Nikolai Bordyuzha]] was appointed secretary general of the new organisation. On 23 June 2006, [[Uzbekistan]] became a full participant in the CSTO and its membership was formally ratified by its parliament on 28 March 2008.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140227124643/http://www.eurasianhome.org/ eurasianhome.org] Access date: 24 December 2014 (Archive date 27 February 2014)</ref> Furthermore, the CSTO is an observer organisation at the [[United Nations General Assembly observers|United Nations General Assembly]].

The charter reaffirmed the desire of all participating states to abstain from the use or threat of force. Signatories would not be able to join other military alliances or other groups of states, while aggression against one signatory would be perceived as an aggression against all. To this end, the CSTO holds yearly military command exercises for the CSTO nations to have an opportunity to improve inter-organisation cooperation. The largest-scale CSTO military exercise held, to date, were the "Rubezh 2008" exercises hosted in [[Armenia]] where a combined total of 4,000 troops from all 7 constituent CSTO member countries conducted operative, strategic, and tactical training with an emphasis towards furthering the efficiency of the collective security element of the CSTO partnership.<ref>[http://www.pims.org/news/2008/08/06/rubezh-2008-the-first-large-scale-csto-military-exercise] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210230833/http://www.pims.org/news/2008/08/06/rubezh-2008-the-first-large-scale-csto-military-exercise|date=10 February 2009}}</ref>

The Ministry of Defense of Armenia has repeatedly stated that it would expect direct military assistance from the CSTO in case war with Azerbaijan resumes, as recently as December 2009, Defense Minister Ohanyan made the same statement. In August 2009, Nikolay Bordyuzha, the CSTO's secretary-general, confirmed that official [[Yerevan]] can count on such support.<ref name="asbarez.com"/>

On 4 February 2009, an agreement to create the Collective Rapid Reaction Force (KSOR) was reached by five of the seven CSTO members, with plans finalized on 14 June 2009. Armenia is one of the five member states. The force is intended to be used to repulse military aggression, conduct [[anti-terrorist]] operations, fight [[transnational crime]] and [[drug trafficking]], and neutralize the effects of [[natural disaster]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thefastertimes.com/defensespending/2009/10/30/with-russian-prodding-csto-begins-taking-shape/|title=With Russian Prodding, CSTO Begins Taking Shape|work=The Faster Times|access-date=24 December 2014|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224155135/http://www.thefastertimes.com/defensespending/2009/10/30/with-russian-prodding-csto-begins-taking-shape/|archive-date=24 December 2014}}</ref>

=== NATO ===
{{Main|Armenia–NATO relations}}
{{See also|Major non-NATO ally#Armenia}}
Armenia participates in [[NATO]]'s [[Partnership for Peace]] (PiP) program and it is in a NATO organization called [[Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council]] (EAPC). Armenia is in the process of implementation of [[Individual Partnership Action Plan]]s (IPAPs), which is a program for those countries that have the political will and ability to deepen their relationship with NATO. Cooperative Best Effort exercise (the first where Russia was represented) was run on Armenian territory in 2003.

=== France ===
On 5 October 2023, following the [[2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh]], [[France]] announced that it would send defense aid to the Armenian military.<ref>{{cite web |title=French foreign minister pledges arms for Armenia in visit to Yerevan |url=https://www.euronews.com/2023/10/04/french-foreign-minister-pledges-arms-for-armenia-in-visit-to-yerevan |website=euronews.com |publisher=euronews |access-date=5 October 2023}}</ref>

=== Greece ===
[[Greece]] is Armenia's closest ally in NATO and the two cooperate on multiple issues. A number of Armenian officers are trained in Greece every year, and military aid/material assistance has been provided to Armenia. In 2003, the two countries signed a military cooperation accord, under which Greece will increase the number of Armenian servicemen trained at the military and military-medical academies in Athens.

In February 2003, [[Armenia]] sent 34 peacekeepers to [[Kosovo]] where they became part of the [[Greece|Greek]] contingent. Officials in [[Yerevan]] have said the Armenian military plans to substantially increase the size of its peacekeeping detachment and counts on Greek assistance to the effort. In June 2008, Armenia sent 72 peacekeepers to Kosovo for a total of 106 peacekeepers.

In November 2024, several sources claimed that Greece was planning to transfer all Russian-made air defences it possessed to Armenia. The equipment includes S-300 long-range SAMs, acquired by Greece after the [[Cypriot S-300 crisis|Cypriot Missile Crisis]], [[Tor missile system|Tor-M1]] short-medium range SAM, and [[Osa-AKM]] short-range systems. The claim has not been confirmed by the Greek MoD yet.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ռ/Կ |first=«Ազատություն» |date=2024-11-26 |title=Greece Said To Send Air Defense Systems To Armenia |url=https://www.azatutyun.am/a/33216699.html |access-date=2024-11-26 |work=«Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան |language=hy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brahy |first=Jérôme |title=Greece to transfer S-300 and Tor-M1 air defense systems to Armenia instead of Ukraine in strategic shift |url=https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/army-news-2024/greece-to-transfer-s-300-and-tor-m1-air-defense-systems-to-armenia-instead-of-ukraine-in-strategic-shift |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=armyrecognition.com |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=LLC |first=Helix Consulting |title=Greece could send Russian air defense systems to Armenia |url=https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2024/11/26/Greece-Armenia/3082882 |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=www.panorama.am |language=en}}</ref>

=== Baltic States ===
[[Lithuania]] has been sharing experience and providing consultations to the Armenian Defense Ministry in the field of democratic control of armed forces, military and defense concepts and public relations since 2002. Since 2004, Armenian officers have been invited to study at the [[General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania|Lithuanian War Academy]] and the [[Baltic Defence College]] in [[Tartu]], [[Estonia]]. Lithuania covers all study expenditures. In early 2007, two Armenian officers for the first time took part in a Baltic lead international exercise, Amber Hope, which was held in Lithuania.<ref>[http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg211150.html Lithuanian Defense Minister Going To Armenia]{{dead link|date=October 2014}}</ref>

=== United States ===
{{See also|Armenia–United States relations#Military cooperation|Kansas–Armenia National Guard Partnership}}
[[File:Armenian army Capt. Avetisyan Slavik, a platoon leader, gives a safety briefing to his troops before loading onto a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a training exercise March 12, 2014, at Camp 140312-A-QK348-046.jpg|thumb|Armenian troops before loading onto a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a training exercise]]
The [[United States]] has been steadily upping its military clout in the region. In early 2003, the [[United States Department of Defense]] announced several major military programs in the [[Caucasus]]. [[Federal government of the United States|Washington's]] military aid to Armenia in 2005 amounted to $5&nbsp;million, and in April 2004, the two sides signed a military-technical cooperation accord.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wuPeALvC-aUC&pg=PA8|title=Treaties in Force|date=2008|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|isbn=9780160821240|language=en}}</ref> In late 2004, Armenia deployed a unit of 46 soldiers, which included bomb-disposal experts, [[Physician|doctor]]s, and transport specialists, to Iraq as part of the American-led [[Multi-National Force Iraq]]. In 2005, the United States allocated $7&nbsp;million to modernize the military communications of the Armenian Armed Forces.

Since 2003, Armenia and the [[Kansas National Guard]] have exchanged military delegations as part of a [[National Guard Bureau]] program to promote better relations between the United States and developing nations. The program has largely consisted of mutual visits to each other's countries in an effort to share "ideas and [the] best practices for military and emergency management."<ref>"[http://www.kansascity.com/2012/11/27/3936209/kansas-national-guard-aiding-armenian.html#storylink=cpy Kansas National Guard aiding Armenian military]." ''[[Kansas City Star]]''. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2012. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130023232/http://www.kansascity.com/2012/11/27/3936209/kansas-national-guard-aiding-armenian.html#storylink=cpy |date=30 November 2012 }}</ref>

[[Eagle Partner 2023]] was a military exercise which took place in Armenia from 11 September to 20 September 2023. The main goal of the exercise was the fortifying of the alliance between the [[Armenia–United States relations|United States with Armenia]] and also the training of the [[12th Peacekeeping Brigade (Armenia)|12th Peacekeeping Brigade]] of the Armed Forces of Armenia for future peacekeeping missions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Armenia|first=U. S. Mission|date=2023-09-15 |title=Eagle Partner Exercise Builds Upon Longstanding U.S.-Armenian Security Cooperation|url=https://am.usembassy.gov/eagle-partner/|access-date=2023-10-27|website=U.S. Embassy in Armenia|language=en-US}}</ref> Eagle Partner 2024 began on 15 July 2024. The exercises were scheduled to last through July 24.<ref>[https://www.voanews.com/a/armenia-launches-military-drills-with-us-amid-souring-ties-with-old-ally-russia-/7699015.html Armenia launches military drills with US amid souring ties with old ally Russia ]</ref>

On 6 December 2024, Armenian Defense Minister [[Suren Papikyan]] held a high-level meeting with United States Secretary of Defense [[Lloyd Austin]] at [[The Pentagon]]. The two leaders met to discuss the strategic relationship between the United States and Armenia. Austin stated, "Your visit is historic. Armenia extended its hand to the United States and I'm proud to host you here today" and "the U.S. supports a sovereign, independent, and prosperous Armenia and that relationship between the two nations continues to grow closer."<ref>[https://mediamax.am/en/news/armypolice/56422/ Pentagon head describes the visit of Armenian DM as "historic"]</ref> Papikyan highlighted the priority of  transforming the Armenian Armed Forces and enhancing interoperability with the [[U.S. Armed Forces]].<ref>[https://armenpress.am/en/article/1206818 Armenian Defense Minister, U.S. Secretary of Defense discuss cooperation]</ref>

=== European Union ===
{{See also|Armenia–European Union relations}}
On 22 July 2024, the [[European Union]] approved the allocation of 10 million euros to the Armed Forces of Armenia from the [[European Peace Facility]]. This marked the first ever funding assistance to the Armed Forces of Armenia from the EU. The funding will be used to increase the material and technical capabilities of Armenia's army. The EU's Foreign Affairs chief, [[Josep Borrell]] stated "Security is an important element of bilateral relations with Armenia. The EU has a mutual interest in further expanding dialogue on foreign and security policy, also looking into Armenia's future participation in EU-led missions and operations." Armenia's Foreign Minister [[Ararat Mirzoyan]] stated "We salute the historic decisions of EU [[Foreign Affairs Council]] on providing assistance to Armenia under the European Peace Facility. This is a very important milestone in the Armenia-EU partnership based on shared values and principles as well as the vision for stability, peace and prosperity." While the Armenian [[Minister of Defence (Armenia)|Minister of Defence]], [[Suren Papikyan]] stated "This initiative will give a new charge to closer cooperation with our partner EU member countries in both bilateral and multilateral formats."<ref>[https://asbarez.com/eu-approves-10-million-euros-for-military-aid-to-armenia/ EU Approves 10 Million Euros in Military Assistance to Armenia]</ref><ref>[https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/07/22/european-peace-facility-council-adopts-the-first-ever-assistance-measure-in-support-of-the-armenian-armed-forces/ European Peace Facility: Council adopts the first ever assistance measure in support of the Armenian Armed Forces]</ref>