Armenia and the United Kingdom have signed a joint declaration establishing a strategic partnership following talks between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the 8th European Political Community Summit in Yerevan.
The agreement builds on the November 2023 launch of the Armenia–UK strategic dialogue and formally elevates bilateral relations to the strategic level.
Pashinyan called Starmer’s visit to Armenia “historic,” noting that it was the first visit by a British prime minister to independent Armenia. He said the visit is expected to provide new momentum to bilateral relations and expand cooperation across multiple sectors.
Starmer thanked Armenia for its hospitality and praised the organization of the EPC Summit, stressing the importance of deepening multifaceted cooperation with Yerevan.
Both sides discussed bilateral priorities as well as regional developments. In their joint declaration, Armenia and the UK reaffirmed their commitments to democracy, human rights, the rule of law, good governance, and the rules-based international order, including respect for sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
The United Kingdom reiterated its support for the institutionalization of peace and normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, based on mutual recognition of territorial integrity and border delimitation in line with the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration. The declaration also referenced the August 8, 2025 Washington Peace Summit statement and the initialed Armenia–Azerbaijan peace agreement.
The two countries welcomed efforts to unblock regional transport links and improve connectivity and stability in the region, highlighting the “Crossroads of Peace” and “TRIPP” initiatives as frameworks for regional cooperation and economic integration.
The partnership outlines three main pillars of cooperation: defense and security, economic development, and democratic governance.
In defense and security, the two sides committed to strengthening Armenia’s capabilities in areas such as defense reform, border security, cybersecurity, and resilience against hybrid threats.
On economic cooperation, the agreement focuses on expanding trade and investment, supporting sustainable growth and diversification in Armenia, and enhancing regional transport, energy, and communications connectivity.
In the area of governance, the partnership emphasizes support for transparent institutions, anti-corruption measures, free and fair elections, independent media, and civil society.
Both countries agreed to hold annual strategic partnership meetings and to establish a joint framework to monitor implementation and coordinate cooperation across all areas.
The declaration specifies that it is not a legally binding international treaty and does not create legal obligations under domestic or international law.
Earlier in the day, upon arriving at the summit venue, Starmer took questions from journalists but declined to respond when asked by a NEWS.am correspondent to comment on the Armenian prisoners still being held in Azerbaijan, leaving the briefing area without addressing the issue.
