Sovereignty on Pause: Details of the Armenian-US Declarations

Late last week, the Armenian government released the memorandums signed with the United States on August 8, including the Memorandum of Understanding regarding an AI and Semiconductor Innovation Partnership, the Memorandum of Partnership on Energy Security, and the Memorandum regarding the Crossroads of Peace Capacity Building Partnership.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the entire propaganda machine of the authorities are trying to convince the public that these memorandums, combined with the pre-signed “peace treaty” with Azerbaijan, guarantee Armenia’s existence for the next 100 years. Moreover, it is claimed that the released documents allegedly confirm that Armenia has not “given up a single inch of its sovereignty.” But is this really the case?

In the case of Armenia, the so-called “Zangezur corridor” is a separate communication route through the country’s territory that has nothing to do with the fake “Crossroads of Peace” project. The August 8 memorandums, which were published by the Armenian side, do not address the main issue of granting the “Zangezur corridor” to Baku and Ankara. The corridor is disguised as the “Trump Route,” but nothing has been published regarding this project.

However, even before the publication, there are reasonable doubts about the authorities’ claims that they have “defended their sovereignty.”

As for the published documents, it should be noted that the memorandums contain several important points: the United States expresses its desire to enhance the cybersecurity of Armenia’s energy infrastructure, the purpose of the Memorandum is to collaborate on improving Armenia’s infrastructure and border security, including through investments, resources, training, and partnerships between the Parties, and the Memorandum aims to strengthen Armenia’s border security through training, using the resources of the US Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection Service.

In other words, Armenia’s borders will now be under American control, including the border with Iran. This, in turn, means that the United States is going to control the foreign trade operations of Armenia and, accordingly, the EAEU. Foreign trade operations related to semiconductors and AI. The goal is clear: to exclude Armenia from supply chains that benefit China, Russia, and Iran.

Pashinyan is turning Armenia into an official “drain hole” through which the United States will control information about customs processes, imports, and exports within the EAEU. Compounding this is the EU membership law recently passed by the Armenian parliament, along with Pashinyan’s statement about choosing between the EU and the EAEU—making it evident that the decision has already been made. If Pashinyan remains in power, Armenia will not only exit the EAEU but will also inflict maximum reputational and practical damage on the organization before doing so.

Think about it…