Yesterday, US Vice President J.D. Vance visited Armenia. Vance met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. A memorandum on peaceful cooperation in the field of nuclear energy between the US and Armenia was signed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and US Vice President J.D. Vance.
The signed document forms the legal basis for the future strategic interaction between the two countries in the field of nuclear energy.
In addition, one of the notable points was Vance's confirmation of the sale of 11 million dollars worth of surveillance drones to Armenia. These agreements draw attention to Armenia-Iran relations.
Thus, the acquisition of V-BAT type unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is evaluated as a possible intelligence and surveillance mechanism against Iran. Due to their technical characteristics, V-BAT type UAVs are capable not only of tactical observation but also of long-term reconnaissance, border control, and real-time data transmission. Considering Armenia's geographical position, the possibility of using these platforms for observation and reconnaissance purposes in areas close to the Iranian borders is not excluded. Although official Yerevan presents this as strengthening its defense capabilities, the regional configuration places this step in a broader geopolitical context.
Firstly, the main point of note against the backdrop of these agreements is that US-Armenia relations are no longer confined to the framework of classic diplomatic cooperation but are acquiring an overt geopolitical content. The legal framework established under the guise of “peaceful cooperation” in the field of nuclear energy, along with Vance's confirmation of the sale of 11 million dollars worth of surveillance drones, indicates that Armenia's security architecture is being reshaped in accordance with Western standards. This suggests that Yerevan is gradually becoming a strategic foothold serving Western interests in the region.
For Iran, which has always had good relations with Armenia, this could pose a serious threat. This is because the strengthening of Armenia's military-technical capabilities by the US is understood as an expansion of intelligence and surveillance capabilities against Tehran. Thus, Armenia is becoming a link in the Western security chain, not only in the South Caucasus but also in a broader regional context encompassing Iran. This process clearly demonstrates that Yerevan is moving away from a balanced foreign policy and accepting the role of one of the front-line countries in the strategic line formed by the West against Iran. In this regard, the peaceful cooperation in the field of nuclear energy between the US and Armenia is not merely incidental. It aims to entice Armenia to become a forward outpost against Iran.
On the other hand, it should also be noted that these processes simultaneously indicate a change in Armenia's long-standing geopolitical role. Once serving as Russia's main outpost in the South Caucasus, Armenia is now rapidly moving away from Moscow's sphere of influence and becoming a strategic foothold for the West. The memorandum signed with the US in the field of nuclear energy, the expansion of military-technical cooperation, and the sale of surveillance drones demonstrate that this transformation has already entered an official and institutional phase.
Thus, Armenia's security and foreign policy vector is sharply changing: military-political dependence on Russia is gradually weakened, and instead, deep integration with the US and Western structures is being implemented. This confirms that Yerevan is becoming a front-line country not only in the regional balance but also in the Western security strategy formed around Iran, which can naturally lead to an even more acute character in Armenia-Iran relations, which have already become fragile in recent months.
At this point, it is appropriate to recall that the coolness in relations became evident during the protests in Iran. Iranian officials had expressed concerns that Armenian territory and Armenian society were being used for anti-Iranian activities.
Even Iran's Ambassador to Armenia, Khalil Shirgholami, had officially expressed Tehran's dissatisfaction with its neighbor, stating, "Armenia is becoming a center for forces hostile to Iran."
It appears that the main objective of Armenia's political line is the monitoring and control of Iran's regional capabilities. If this course does not change, Armenia's “security gains” may be short-lived, and instead, the country could be drawn to the front line on the map of great power confrontations.
