Russian Troops to Leave Armenia-Iran Border by 2025 Amid Shifting Alliances

In a significant move signaling Armenia's growing independence from Moscow, Russian border guards are set to withdraw from the Armenia-Iran border by January 1, 2025. This development follows an agreement reached between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Under the deal, Armenia will take over control of the strategic Armenia-Iran checkpoint, marking a clear shift in the country's approach to its security and international relationships.

For years, Russian troops have been stationed at Armenia’s borders with both Iran and Turkey, playing a pivotal role in safeguarding the region. However, the decision to transition the border checkpoint’s control to Armenian forces reflects deeper changes in the political landscape between the two former Soviet allies. Pashinyan's government has been increasingly vocal about its dissatisfaction with Russia, especially after the loss of the Nagorno-Karabakh region to Azerbaijan in 2020, a conflict that Armenia feels Russia did little to help resolve. 

Pashinyan, who once viewed Moscow as Armenia’s main security guarantor, now considers this dependence a miscalculation. He openly criticized Russia in 2023 for its failure to protect Armenia’s interests, noting that Moscow’s attention has been consumed by the war in Ukraine. Despite Russia's assurances that its focus on the South Caucasus remains intact, Armenia's frustration has grown. Yerevan’s decision to offer humanitarian aid to Ukraine last year only deepened the rift between Armenia and Russia.

This change in Armenia's defense strategy goes beyond border control. The country suspended its participation in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) earlier this year. Pashinyan cited the bloc's failure to support Armenia during critical times, particularly during conflicts with Azerbaijan. His remarks in September 2024 were a stark warning of Armenia’s declining trust in the CSTO, describing the alliance as a threat to Armenia’s sovereignty.

The geopolitical shift is further evidenced by Armenia’s search for new defense partnerships. Yerevan has been expanding its military ties with other nations, including procuring arms from India and conducting joint exercises with NATO members like the United States. Meanwhile, Armenia’s forces will still cooperate with Russian troops along its western border with Turkey, maintaining some level of military collaboration.

The decision to replace Russian border guards with Armenian forces at the Armenia-Iran frontier underscores Yerevan’s growing desire to assert control over its own security. As Armenia continues to recalibrate its foreign relations, the departure of Russian forces from this sensitive border marks the end of an era and the start of a new chapter in Armenia’s geopolitical strategy.