Armenia Joins Trade Over Aid Initiative and Pursues US Pact

The Government of Armenia announced its membership in the Trade Over Aid Initiative on July 14, 2026, during a forum in New York. Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Abisoghomonyan stated that the move focuses on national capacity-building, economic resilience, and a transition toward a knowledge-based economy, with support from the United Nations Development Programme for governance and institutional reforms.

This economic shift coincides with deepening strategic cooperation with the United States. Armenia and the U.S. recently concluded negotiations on the 123 Agreement for peaceful nuclear energy and signed a memorandum on critical minerals. Private sector investment is also central to this strategy, evidenced by the construction of the Firebird AI data center involving NVIDIA and Dell Technologies.

On July 15, the Armenian government scheduled a meeting for the following day to approve a legislative initiative ratifying the Trump Road for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) framework agreement. The agreement, signed in June 2026 by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, must first be reviewed by the Constitutional Court of Armenia to ensure compliance with national law before moving to the National Assembly for final ratification.