Moscow says Russian military base key to Armenia’s security architecture

Russia says its military base in Armenia remains an important element of the country’s security architecture, while ruling out any immediate alternative to its presence there.

No requests have been received for the withdrawal of the Russian military base from Armenia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said.

Moscow considers the Russian military base an important element of Armenia’s and the South Caucasus’ security architecture, Galuzin told Izvestia. He said there was currently no real alternative to the base. 

Russia is also ready to discuss continuing defence and security cooperation with Armenia, including as part of the review of bilateral relations proposed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. 

Russia has maintained a military presence in Armenia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Its 102nd Military Base is headquartered in Gyumri, near Armenia’s border with Türkiye, and is regarded by Moscow as a key component of its security presence in the South Caucasus.

By Vugar Khalilov