"Zhoghovurd" daily writes:
"Although the government of the Republic of Armenia is fighting day and night against the Russian Federation, accusing the Kremlin of hybrid attacks, in any case, RA continues to maintain close and productive relations with the Russian Federation. "Zhoghovurd" daily continues to study the 2025 plan of the RA Government (2021-26). the progress and results report, and it turned out that We have a qualitative increase in relations with the USA, volume and intensity of relations with the Russian Federation. Data from the official report for 2025 show a dual picture. Armenia's relations with the United States have obviously acquired a new political quality, while relations with Russia, even in the midst of a recession, continue to be incomparably deeper, both in terms of the intensity of contacts and economic volume.
In other words, if we are talking about political reformulation, the progress is in the American direction, but if the criterion is the volume of practical ties, the Russian direction still prevails. Regarding Russia, it is recorded in the official document that "during the year 2025, the dialogue with the Russian Federation continued at the highest and highest levels". In the same section, it is specially emphasized that "there were 4 meetings and 5 telephone conversations between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin." This already shows that the connection with Moscow was not only preserved, but also remained at the level of intense political contacts.
However, the most telling indicator in the direction of Russia is the trade turnover. The document states: "In 2025, the trade turnover between RA and Russia amounted to about 7.7 billion US dollars, decreasing by about 38.3% compared to 2024." Although the decline is large, even under these conditions, the number remains so large that the American direction still does not come close to it. In the case of the USA, the picture is different.
It is clearly stated in the document. "During 2025, Armenia-US relations have been raised to the level of strategic partnership." The key aspect of this qualitative change was that "on January 14, RA Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinke signed the RA-US strategic partnership charter in Washington."
Other developments were also recorded in the direction of the USA. In particular, it is noted that "On February 3-5, the RA Prime Minister participated in the International Religious Freedom Summit and the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, met with the US Vice President JD Vance." In addition, the document shows that American support was not only at the political level.
For example, it is mentioned: "With the support of the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs of the US State Department, the Bruce School in Armenia has started a package of 145 million drams for the implementation of the TRIPP program." It is also noted that "the visit of the delegation led by RA Defense Minister Suren Papikyan to the USA took place", and in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy, "the start of negotiations on the "123 Agreement" was followed by the first round of negotiations between representatives of RA and US competent authorities".
However, the economic figures in the case of the USA are modest. According to official data, "in 2025, the trade turnover between Armenia and the USA amounted to about 348 million USD, decreasing by 15.2% compared to 2024". This indicator is almost 22 times smaller than the trade turnover with Russia. Thus, the facts compel at least two different conclusions. Today, relations with the USA are growing faster, politically warmer and more promising, as they have been raised to the level of strategic partnership and received a new institutional format. But in practical terms of effectiveness, especially in terms of trade, high-level permanent ties and overall engagement, Russia still remains Armenia's closer partner.
In short, if the question is asked which direction will be more "warm" in 2025, the answer is more the USA, because relations have been officially raised to a new level. If the question is asked which direction is more "closer" and more influential in practice, then the answer so far is Russia, with 4 meetings, 5 telephone conversations and a trade turnover of 7.7 billion dollars.
In other words, in 2025, Armenia got a political rise with Washington, but it still maintains a more weighty and material connection with Moscow."
