The United States signed a strategic partnership agreement with Armenia on Tuesday, marking a milestone in relations between the two countries.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan signed the agreement during a ceremony in Washington.

In remarks after the signing of the document, Blinken explained that the strategic partnership agreement will aim to broaden economic, security, defense and democracy development cooperation with Armenia in international relations.

“We are establishing a US-Armenia Strategic Partnership Commission. This Commission gives us framework to expand our bilateral cooperation in a number of key areas economic matters, security and defense, democracy, justice..” Blinken said.

The Secretary of State also said that the U.S. is working with Armenia to strengthen its sovereignty and defense of territorial integrity.

Blinken announced that next week a special team of border security agents will travel to Armenia in order to coordinate the defense of Armenia’s borders.

“Next week, a special border security team will go to Armenia to carry out joint border security works. We will strengthen the relevant security works,” Blinken explained.

“We have done tremendous work in a short period of time under the auspices of an excellent partnership. Thus, we can record an important cornerstone achievement in Armenia-US relations: we are establishing a Strategic Partnership Commission,” he added.

Speaking about Armenian-American economic and energy cooperation, Blinken said, “We are currently moving toward negotiations on peaceful nuclear security and nuclear energy.”

Mirzoyan expressed gratitude for Washington’s efforts in supporting the territorial integrity of Armenia and the independence of the Republic of Armenia. He said Yerevan remains committed to the peace agenda and to working closely with the U.S.

“The Armenia-U.S. Strategic Partnership Charter provides a solid foundation and makes our cooperation more ambitious. It covers various areas, including strengthening economic and energy ties, improving communications, deepening defense and security cooperation, enhancing democratic institutions, promoting justice and the rule of law, developing innovations and high technologies, and expanding people-to-people contacts,” said Mirzoyan.

Mirzoyan emphasized that relations between Armenia and the United States, grounded in shared values and mutual interests, have significantly developed in recent years.”They have reached a level where the establishment of a strategic partnership not only reflects current realities but is also crucial in the context of operating in complex geopolitical conditions,” he added. The Armenian Foreign Minister thanked U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his team for their efforts in advancing cooperation between the two countries to a new level. 

“We deeply appreciate the United States’ steadfast support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia,” Mirzoyan said, adding that official Yerevan is ready to work with the incoming U.S. administration.

Armenian and American officials, led by Mirzoyan and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien, held a U.S.-Armenia meeting in Yerevan last year, after which they announced the advancement of the status of the strategic dialogue to a strategic partnership.