Armenia and the United States have agreed to partner on civil nuclear energy, a deal that could mean billions in American exports.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Vice President JD Vance signed the accord Monday. The vice president is on a two-day visit to Armenia.
The two leaders completed negotiations on a so-called 123 Agreement, permitting the United States to export nuclear technology and equipment legally to other nations.
Vance said the deal could bring as much as $5 billion in initial U.S. exports to Armenia, as well as $4 billion in long-term contracts for fuel and maintenance.
“This agreement will open a new chapter in the deepening energy partnership between Armenia and the United States,” Pashinyan said at a joint press conference with Vance.
Armenia has historically depended on Russia and Iran to meet its energy needs. The country has now fielded bids from American, Russian, Chinese, French, and South Korean firms to construct a new nuclear reactor to replace its outdated, Russian-constructed Metsamor plant. No selection has been announced.
The new U.S. agreement could advance the former Soviet republic’s move away from the orbit of Russia, especially if the United States wins the bid to build the energy plant. Moscow has long viewed the South Caucasus as a part of its sphere of influence.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told Izvestia that Russia’s proposal for a new plant is the best option, with state-owned Rosatom prepared to break ground on the new facility.
“Rosatom is ready to proceed very quickly with the implementation of this project, of course in accordance with the wishes of our Armenian friends,” Galuzin said. “There are no real alternatives in terms of the availability of reliable, proven technologies, as well as the attractiveness of financial parameters.”
On his trip, Vance is promoting the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a planned 27-mile corridor spanning southern Armenia. It would provide Azerbaijan direct access to its Nakhchivan exclave and its ally Turkey. An exclave is a portion of a country that is separate from the main territory.
TRIPP encompasses upgraded rail lines, oil and gas pipelines, and fiber-optic cables. It could lead to a remaking of the South Caucasus, a region known for sealed borders and ethnic clashes, by connecting Asia and Europe.
The route would also circumvent Russia and Iran, rerouting energy and trade from Moscow.
“We’re not just making peace for Armenia,” Vance said. “We’re also creating real prosperity for Armenia and the United States together.”
Vance plans to travel to Azerbaijan on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the White House.
Reuters contributed to this report.
