Pashinyan to remove "aggression" from Armenia's military strategy

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan urged to stop using the term 'combat-ready' when referring to the training level of the military. Instead, he said they should use 'defense-capable'.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has declared that the Armenian military has no objectives beyond the internationally recognized sovereign territory of of the republic.

Speaking at a joint session of the National Assembly's standing committees during discussions on the draft 'State Budget for 2026' law, he emphasized the need to transform the concept of a "combat-ready army" into a "defense-capable army."

He argued that the term 'combat-ready' does not specify where a potential battle could take place, whereas 'defense-capable' clearly indicates a country's readiness to protect its own territory.

"For us, it is crucial to emphasize this context: the Armenian army must be defense-capable, meaning it should be able to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia, as well as the security of its citizens," Nikol Pashinyan said.

The Armenian PM added that, under international law, every state has an obligation to ensure the safety of its own citizens, including from possible external interventions.