Since its independence, Armenia has maintained a policy of trying to have positive and friendly relations with Iran, Greece, and the West, including the United States and the European Union.– "Armenian Foreign Policy Between Russia, Iran And U.S." – 29 March 2010 It has full membership status in a number of international organizations, such as the Council of Europe and the Eurasian Economic Union, and observer status, etc. in some others. However, the dispute over the Armenian genocide of 1915 and the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have created tense relations with two of its immediate neighbors, Azerbaijan and Turkey. In June 2024, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that his country's membership in the CSTO had been suspended. In February 2025, the Armenian parliament adopted a law initiating Armenia's accession process to the European Union.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs implements the foreign policy agenda of the Government of Armenia and organizes and manages diplomatic services abroad. Since August 2021, Ararat Mirzoyan has served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.
Foreign relations Armenia is a member of more than 70 different international organizations, including the following:
Asian Development Bank Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Commonwealth of Independent States Council of Europe The EU's Eastern Partnership and the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly The UN's Eastern European Group Eurocontrol European Bank for Reconstruction and Development European Political Community Eurasian Economic Union Eurasian Development Bank and the Eurasian Customs Union Federation of Euro-Asian Stock Exchanges International Bank for Reconstruction and Development International Monetary Fund Interpol La Francophonie NATO's Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Individual Partnership Action Plan, and Partnership for Peace Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation TRACECA United Nations World Bank, the World Customs Organization, and the World Trade Organization
Armenia is also an observer member of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, the Community of Democratic Choice, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of American States, the Pacific Alliance, the Arab League, the Community of Democracies, a dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and a regional member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Armenian genocide recognition
As of 2025, 34 states have officially recognized the historical events as genocide. Parliaments of countries that recognize the Armenian genocide include Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela. Additionally, some regional governments of countries recognize the Armenian genocide too, such as New South Wales and South Australia in Australia as well as Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales in the United Kingdom. US House Resolution 106 was introduced on 30 January 2007, and later referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The bill has 225 co-sponsors. The bill called for former President George W. Bush to recognize and use the word genocide in his annual 24 April speech which he never used. His successor President Barack Obama expressed his desire to recognize the Armenian genocide during the electoral campaigns, but after being elected, did not use the word "genocide" to describe the events that occurred in 1915. The US House of Representatives formally recognized the Armenian genocide with House Resolution 296 on 29 October 2019. The United States Senate unanimously recognized the genocide with Senate Resolution 150 on 12 December 2019. In 2021, President Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to formally recognize the Armenian genocide. As of 2022, all 50 U.S. states have also recognized the events as genocide.
Disputes
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Armenia provides political, material and military support to the Republic of Artsakh in the longstanding Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The current conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 when Armenian demonstrations against Azerbaijani rule broke out in Nagorno–Karabakh and later in Armenia. The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast voted to secede from Azerbaijan and join Armenia. Soon, violence broke out against Armenians in Azerbaijan and Azeris in Armenia. In 1990, after violent episodes in Nagorno–Karabakh and Azerbaijani cities like Baku, Sumgait and Kirovabad, Moscow declared a state of emergency in Karabakh, sending troops to the region, and forcibly occupied Baku, killing over a hundred civilians. In April 1991, Azerbaijani militia and Soviet forces targeted Armenian populations in Karabakh, known as Operation Ring. Moscow also deployed troops to Yerevan. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, conflict escalated into a full-scale war between the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (supported by Armenia), and Azerbaijan. Military action was influenced by the Russian military, which manipulated the rivalry between the two neighbouring sides in order to keep both under control.
More than 30,000 people were killed in the fighting during the period of 1988 to 1994. In May 1992, Armenian forces seized Shusha and Lachin (thereby linking Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia). By October 1993, Armenian forces succeeded in taking almost all of former NKAO, Lachin and large areas in southwestern Azerbaijan. In 1993, the UN Security Council adopted four resolutions calling for the cessation of hostilities, unimpeded access for international humanitarian relief efforts, and the eventual deployment of a peacekeeping force in the region. Fighting continued, however, until May 1994 at which time Russia brokered a cease-fire between the three sides.
Negotiations to resolve the conflict peacefully have been ongoing since 1992 under the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The Minsk Group is co-chaired by Russia, France, and the United States and has representation from Turkey, the U.S., several European nations, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Despite the 1994 cease-fire, sporadic violations, sniper-fire and land mine incidents continue to claim over 100 lives each year.
Since 1997, the Minsk Group co-chairs have presented three proposals to serve as a framework for resolving the conflict. Each proposal was rejected. Beginning in 1999, the presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia initiated a direct dialogue through a series of face-to-face meetings, often facilitated by the Minsk Group Co-Chairs. The OSCE sponsored a round of negotiations between the presidents in Key West, Florida. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell launched the talks on 3 April 2001, and the negotiations continued with mediation by the U.S., Russia and France until 6 April 2001. The Co-Chairs are still continuing to work with the two presidents in the hope of finding lasting peace.
The two countries were technically still at war until 2025. Citizens of Armenia, as well as citizens of any other country who are of Armenian descent, are forbidden entry to Azerbaijan. If a person's passport shows evidence of travel to Nagorno–Karabakh, they are forbidden entry to Azerbaijan.
In 2008, in what became known as the 2008 Mardakert Skirmishes, Armenian forces and Azerbaijan clashed over Nagorno-Karabakh. The fighting between the sides was brief, with few casualties on either side.
The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war and the 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh were the latest escalations of the unresolved conflict.
On 8 August 2025, in a press conference at the White House, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to a peace deal, ending the conflict after over three decades.
Diplomatic relations List List of countries which Armenia maintains diplomatic relations with: #CountryDate123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142—434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118—119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172173174175176177178179180—181182183184185
Multilateral relations Notes on some of Armenia's multilateral relations follow: Organization Formal Relations BeganNotes Armenia established diplomatic relations with the African Union on 25 October 2010. The African Union Commission hailed the Armenian government's intention to have a representative in the African Union, and expressed willingness to develop relations with Armenia. The Representative of Armenia to the African Union is located in Cairo, Egypt. Armenia was granted Observer Status in the Arab League in 2004 after a Syrian invitation. Armenia maintains positive relations with most Arab states. A memorandum on mutual understanding and cooperation between Armenia and the Arab League was signed in January 2005. The agreement promotes intensifying cooperation and the opening of Armenian diplomatic missions in Arab states. The Representative of Armenia to the Arab League is located in Cairo, Egypt. Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation See Armenia–BSEC relations Armenia joined the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) on 25 June 1992 as one of the eleven founding members of the economic organization. The Permanent Mission of Armenia to BSEC is located in Istanbul, Turkey. Collective Security Treaty Organization See Armenia–CSTO relations Armenia joined the CSTO in 1994. The Armenian Permanent Mission to the CSTO is based in Moscow, Russia. Council of Europe See Armenia in the Council of Europe Armenia joined the Council of Europe on 25 January 2001. The Armenian Permanent Mission to the Council of Europe is based in Strasbourg, France. The Council of Europe maintains an Office in Yerevan, Armenia. The Council of Europe has recognized the Armenian genocide. Eurasian Economic Union See Member states of the Eurasian Economic Union and Enlargement of the Eurasian Economic Union Armenia joined the Eurasian Economic Union on 2 January 2015. Armenia is a member of the Eurasian Customs Union Free-trade area. Other members include Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Observer members Cuba, Moldova, and Uzbekistan. See Armenia–European Union relations and Potential enlargement of the European Union Formal relations began in 1991 when Armenia gained independence from the Soviet Union. In 2002, the European Parliament announced that Armenia could potentially join the EU in the future. A Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the EU and Armenia was finalized in 2017. Armenia is a member of the EU's Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, Eastern Partnership, and Energy Community. The Delegation of the European Union to Armenia Office is located in Yerevan, Armenia. The Armenian Permanent Mission to the EU is based in Brussels, Belgium. Since 2013, EU citizens enjoy visa-free travel to Armenia. In 2017, Armenia began talks on visa-liberalization for Armenian citizens traveling into the EU's Schengen Area. In 2024, the European Parliament passed a resolution confirming Armenia meets Maastricht Treaty Article 49 requirements and may apply for EU membership. On 12 February 2025, Armenia's parliament approved a bill officially endorsing Armenia's EU accession. The European Parliament has recognized the Armenian genocide. See Armenia–NATO relations Armenia is not a member of NATO.