Pashinyan: Military alliance with Russia is a pivot of Armenia’s security

Addressing the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, said that Armenia and Russia are discussing the prospects of enhancing the capacities of the 102nd Russian military base located on the territory of Armenia, as well as establishing a subbase in Syunik Province. “We hope for and we are discussing the enhancement of the capabilities of the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia, as well as establishment of a bridgehead of the 102nd military base in the country’s Syunik Province. These discussions are very effective. Russian border guards are involved in the protection of the state border in Syunik,” TASS news agency quotes the Armenian Prime Minister.
Military cooperation between Russia and Armenia is based on the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance (1997), the Treaty on the Development of Military and Technical Cooperation (2013), the Agreement on the Joint Grouping of Armed Forces Troops to Ensure the Security of the Parties in the Caucasus Region (2016). Military cooperation is also carried out within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
On November 30, 2016, the Ministries of Defence of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Armenia signed an agreement on the Joint Grouping of Armed Troops (Forces) of the two countries in order to ensure the security of the parties in the Caucasus region of collective security. The agreement was concluded for a period of five years allowing for automatic prolongation for subsequent five-year periods. The Russian side ratified the document on July 26, 2017 (it entered into force on August 6, 2017). In 2017, the Russian 102nd military base became part of the Joint Grouping together with the 5th Army Corps of the Armenian Armed Forces as part of the CSTO Collective Rapid Response Force.
​