Armenia-NATO partnership relations date back to 1992 when Armenia joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, later renamed the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (Armenia has been a member of EAPC since 1997). Armenia's cooperation with NATO has gradually broadened since Armenia joined the Partnership for Peace in 1994.

Starting from 2006 the political dialogue and partnership cooperation in various fields have been developing between Armenia and NATO in the framework of the Individual Partnership Action Plan (Armenia presented its first IPAP to NATO in June 2005 and started the first cycle of implementation in January 2006). Partnership tools such as the PfP Planning and Review Process (Armenia joined PfP PARP in 2002) and Individual Partnership Action Plan are aimed at supporting Armenia in the security and defense sector reforms and enhancing the military interoperability and capabilities of its peacekeeping forces for participation in multinational peace operations under the UN mandate. The implementation of IPAP is also aimed at enhancing and strengthening democratic control and civilian oversight of its armed forces, improving and strengthening Armenia’s disaster relief and crisis management, as well as emergency preparedness; and raising public awareness of its partnership cooperation with NATO. Armenia and NATO also cooperate in the framework of the Science for Peace and Security program.

Armenia implemented its fifth Individual Partnership Action Plan for 2017 – 2019, and as of 2022, the prolonged fifth IPAP continues to remain in force. Since 2004 Armenian peacekeeping units participate in peace operations contributing peacekeeping troops to KFOR Mission in Kosovo, as well as to Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan (until 2021). Armenia's engagement in peace operations enabled the country to become from a security consumer into a security contributor.

In 2004 Armenia established a diplomatic mission to NATO, based in Brussels, and currently, Ambassador Arman Israyelyan is the Head of the Armenian Mission to NATO.

Defense and security sphere

Armenia’s partnership cooperation with NATO is aimed at facilitating the ongoing reforms in defense and security sectors in the framework of IPAP as well as strengthening the interoperability capabilities with Armenia’s partners. One of the key objectives of Armenia-NATO cooperation in these sectors is to strengthen and enhance democratic control and civilian oversight of the Armed Forces of Armenia.

Since 2002 Armenia has participated in the PfP Planning and Review Process (PARP).

In 2004 Armenian peacekeeping forces joined the NATO-led peace operation in Kosovo and in 2010 started to contribute to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Mission in Afghanistan which was completed in December 2014. In January 2015 Armenia started to contribute to the new Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. In August-September, 2021, due to the end of NATO's "Resolute Support" mission in Afghanistan, the RA peacekeeping contingent returned to Armenia.

Civil emergency planning and Emergency Preparedness

Armenia cooperates with NATO in the areas of crisis management and civil protection to enhance Armenia’s emergency preparedness and disaster relief capabilities to effectively deal with natural disasters and various (asymmetric) threats. To this end through close collaboration with NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) Armenia intends to further develop and strengthen its own crisis management and civil protection capabilities.

On September 11-16, 2010 in cooperation with NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre, Armenia hosted the EADRCC's “Armenia 2010” civil emergency exercise near Yerevan, which is one of NATO's biggest events in the disaster response area.

Armenian rescue teams are actively engaged in the activities of EADRCC and have contributed in the civil emergency exercises and events organized by EADRCC, including emergency exercises “Kodri 2011” in Moldova; “Georgia 2012” in Georgia; “Ukraine 2015” in Ukraine, “Crna Gora 2016” in Montenegro, “Bosnia & Herzegovina 2017”, “North Macedonia 2021”. Armenia and NATO also cooperate in the framework of NATO’s Science for Peace and Security program, particularly in the environmental area.

Public diplomacy

Armenia regularly raises public awareness of Armenia-NATO partnership relations through public diplomacy events. The annual "NATO Week" events are serving this purpose.

December 13-18, 2018 – within the framework of the Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan, the 11th “NATO week” events took place in Yerevan, during which the traditional TV bridge with the Armenian peacekeepers in the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan was established.

March 11-15, 2019 - the 12th “NATO week” event took place in Yerevan. Public events – conferences, round tables, and panel discussions with active participation of governmental bodies, civil societies, academia, NATO international staff, and media, took place in the National Assembly of Armenia, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in the Ministry of Defense of Armenia, French and Vanadzor universities.

The NATO Information Centre in Yerevan, officially launched on March 12, 2007, with the support of the Armenian government and NATO, plays an important role in raising public awareness of Armenia-NATO partnership cooperation. It also plays a key role in public events during the “NATO weeks”.

The Armenian Parliamentarians are also engaged in Armenia-NATO cooperation. The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia actively participates in events organized under the auspices of NATO. Moreover, the RA National Assembly delegation regularly participates in NATO Parliamentary Assembly sessions, as well as Rose-Roth seminars.

2024

January 18-19, Javier Colomina Piriz, the special representative of the NATO Secretary General in the Caucasus and Central Asia, visited Armenia.

2023

On October 24, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between the NATO international staff delegation and the representatives of state agencies of RA for the purpose of discussing and agreeing on the Armenia-NATO ITPP document.

October 6-8, the delegation of the National Assembly of RA participated in the annual session of the NATO PA held in Copenhagen.

On May 23, the NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia Javier Colomina visited Armenia.

May 19-21, the National Assembly delegation of Armenia participated in the spring session of the NATO PA in Luxembourg.

May 15 Secretary of the Security Council of the RA Armen Grigoryan participated in the meeting of the Committee of Deputy Permanent Representatives+Armenia (DPRC+Armenia) at the NATO headquarters.

April 11, Defense Minister Suren Papikyan visited NATO structures, particularly the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE).

January 23, Foreign Minister of the RA Ararat Mirzoyan met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at NATO HQ in Brussels within the framework of his visit to the EU.

January 18, Javier Colomina, NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, visited Armenia.

2022

On October 11, Alexander Vinnikov, head of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia, visited Armenia.

On October 4, the meeting of the Deputy Permanent Representatives Committee (DPRC) of the Alliance member countries took place at the NATO headquarters with the participation of the Secretary of the Security Council of the RA Armen Grigoryan. A. Grigoryan also met with NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia.

September 22, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg within the framework of the UN General Assembly in New York.

On April 26, the NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia Javier Colomina visited Armenia.

March 17, Foreign Minister of the RA Ararat Mirzoyan visited the NATO headquarters. Within the framework of the visit, A. Mirzoyan met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana and also delivered a speech at the North Atlantic Council (NAC) session.

2021

On October 21, Javier Colomina, NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, visited Armenia.

September 1, Javier Colomina Piriz was appointed as NATO Secretary General's Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia

2020

On October 21, President of the RA Armen Sarkissian visited Brussels, the headquarters of NATO, and met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

2019

March 14-15, Clare Hutchinson, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for WPS, visited Armenia. She met with Vice President of the National Assembly Lena Nazaryan, Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, and Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan. She delivered an address during the Panel Discussion titled: Women, Peace, and Security: International and Armenian Practice.

March 11-15, the 12th “NATO week” events took place in Armenia.

March 11-12, James Appathurai, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, visited Armenia. Mr. Appathurai met with President Armen Sarkissian, Vice President of the National Assembly Alen Simonyan, Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, and Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan. He delivered a lecture during the conference at the French University in Armenia within the framework of the NATO week.

2018

December 4-5, Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan in Brussels participated in the ministerial on the “Resolute Support” mission to Afghanistan and met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller.

July 11-12, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the summit of countries participating in the “Resolute Support” mission to Afghanistan, which took place within the framework of the NATO summit in Brussels, and the Prime Minister delivered a statement.

On May 24, the NATO/EAPC Partnership and Collective Security Committee+Armenia meeting took place at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, during which the parties discussed the Armenia-NATO IPAP implementation report of 2017.

March 14-16, NATO Assessment Delegation visited Armenia to assess Armenia-NATO IPAP and PARP (Planning and Review Process) 2017 implementation reports.

2017

On February 27, President Serzh Sargsyan visited NATO headquarters and met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

In April, NATO and Armenia agreed on the fifth Armenia-NATO IPAP for 2017-2019.

In June, James Appathurai, NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, visited Armenia. Mr. Appathurai met with President Serzh Sargsyan, President of the National Assembly Ara Babloyan, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan, and Minister of Emergency Situations Davit Tonoyan.

On July 14, the Head of the Armenian Mission to NATO, Ambassador Armen Yedigarian signs the Agreement on the promotion of cooperation between Armenia and NATO’s Support and Procurement Organization (NSPO), which would afterward serve as the basis for the launch of the Armenia-NATO Trust Fund.

On June 29, Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan participated in the Defense Ministerial Meeting on the "Resolute Support" mission in Afghanistan, within the framework of which he had a meeting with NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller.

November 8-9, the Defense Ministerial Meeting of "Resolute Support" mission participating countries took place in Brussels, which was attended by the First Deputy Defense Minister Artak Zakaryan.

On December 6, the National Assembly ratified the Agreement on the promotion of cooperation between Armenia and NSPO.

December 13-18, the 11th “NATO week” events took place in Armenia.

On December 16, President Serzh Sargsyan signed the Law on Agreement on the promotion of cooperation between Armenia and NSPO.

2016

In March, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan participated in the North Atlantic Council – Armenia meeting in Brussels. The session was preceded by a bilateral meeting between the RA delegation and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

President Serzh Sargsyan attended the Meeting of Heads of State and Government of NATO Members and Partner States contributing to the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan in the framework of the NATO Summit in Warsaw on July 9. President Sargsyan delivered a speech.

November 14-18, in the framework of the Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan, the 10th “NATO week” event took place in Yerevan.

In November, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges Dr. Jamie Shea visited Armenia.

In December, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian participated in the Foreign Ministerial Meeting on Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan in Brussels and delivered a speech.

December 8, in the framework of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Hamburg, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller.

2015

Armenian peacekeeping units continue to contribute to the NATO-led new “Resolute Support” mission in Afghanistan.

June 18-20, by the invitation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s 89th Rose-Roth Seminar, entitled „Security and Stability in the South Caucasus: Fostering Enduring Peace in the Region” took place in Yerevan.

November 2-6, the 9th “NATO Week” event took place in Armenia.

In December, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian participated in the Resolute Support Mission Ministerial Meeting in Brussels dedicated to maintaining security in Afghanistan.

2014

The delegation of the Subcommittee on NATO Partnership of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Political Committee visited Armenia in March.

In May, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan participated in the North Atlantic Council – Armenia meeting in Brussels. The Armenian delegation met with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

In May NATO and Armenia agreed on the fourth Armenia-NATO IPAP for 2014 to 2016.

President Serzh Sargsyan attended the Meeting of Heads of State and Government of NATO Members and Partner States contributing to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan in the framework of the NATO Summit in Newport on September 4th. President Sargsyan delivered a speech.

2013

In April NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, Ambassador Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic visited Armenia to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the President of Armenia.

2012

President Serzh Sargsyan visited the NATO Headquarters to participate in the North Atlantic Council - Armenia meeting in March. President Sargsyan met with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian attended NATO’s Chicago Summit Meeting in ISAF format in May.

Armenia redeployed its peacekeeping contingent in the KFOR Mission in Kosovo in July.

In September NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen visited Armenia and met with President Serzh Sargsyan and delivered a speech at the Yerevan State University.

2011

Armenia tripled its military contingent participating in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan to 126 soldiers.

2010

Armenia started contributing troops to ISAF in Afghanistan in February.

Armenia hosted the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre’s “Armenia 2010” civil emergency exercise near Yerevan in September.

Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan attended the NATO’s Lisbon Summit Meeting in ISAF format.

NATO appointed James Appathurai as NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia.

2009

The Delegation headed by NATO Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Claudio Bizoniero visited Armenia.

NATO officially recognized Armenia as the 43rd troop-contributing country to ISAF in Afghanistan.

2008

President-elect, Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan participated in the NATO Summit in Bucharest on 4 April.

Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan participated in the Armenia-North Atlantic Council meeting in Brussels.

Armenia hosted the PfP Exercise Cooperative Longbow/Lancer.

Armenia doubled the number of Armenian soldiers serving in Kosovo to 70.

President of Armenia Mr. Serzh Sargsyan visited NATO Headquarters and met with NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer.

2007

Armenia organized the first “NATO week” event which has since become an annual event.

The NATO Information Centre officially opened in Yerevan.

2006

On January 1st Armenia started the implementation of the Armenia-NATO IPAP.

The "Rescuer 2006" exercise was held in Armenia.

2005

In June, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian presented Armenia’s first Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) to the North Atlantic Council.

President of Armenia Mr. Robert Kocharyan visited NATO Headquarters.

NATO and Armenia agreed on the Armenia-NATO IPAP document in December.

2004

Armenian Peacekeeping forces joined the KFOR Mission.

NATO established the position of NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Armenia established a Diplomatic Mission to the NATO Headquarters.

2003

Armenia hosted the PfP exercise “Cooperative Best Effort 2003” in June.

2002

Armenia became an Associate Member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

Armenia joined the PfP Planning and Review Process (PARP).

Armenia joined the NATO Partnership Action Plan against Terrorism.

2001

NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson and Chairman of the Military Committee, Admiral Guido Venturini visited Armenia.

1999

President of Armenia Mr. Robert Kocharyan participated in the NATO’s 50th anniversary Summit in Washington.

1997

Armenia joined the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC).

1994

Armenia joined the Partnership for Peace (PfP).

1992

Armenia joined the newly created North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC), renamed the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) in 1997.

 

Updated on 02.02.2024