Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reiterated on Monday that the Armenian military has no objectives beyond the internationally recognized sovereign territory of Armenia.
Speaking in parliament, he urged lawmakers to stop using the term “combat-ready” when referring to the training level of the military. Instead, he said they should use “defense-capable.”
“We consider it very important that in our daily working discussions the concept of a ‘combat-ready army’ be transformed and redefined as a ‘defense-capable army.’ When we say ‘combat-ready army,’ it does not specify where a potential battle could take place. 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,” the Prime Minister said at a 2026 budget bill discussion.
Pashinyan stressed that, under international law, every state has an obligation to ensure the safety of its own citizens, including from possible external interventions.
