Rubio signs critical minerals memorandum in Armenia within an hour, Stratfor writes

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a draft framework agreement on cooperation between Armenia and the United States regarding the so-called Trump Route, Stratfor writes.

During Rubio’s one-hour visit to Yerevan, a memorandum on critical minerals and rare earth metals was also signed.

The report states that the documents will provide US support for Nikol Pashinyan ahead of the June 7 parliamentary elections, strengthening his argument that closer Western ties could bring Armenia investment, transport connectivity, and strategic importance without an immediate rupture in relations with Russia. However, a weak performance by Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party could slow implementation and give pro-Russian forces more leverage to limit Armenia’s Western pivot.

Russia, meanwhile, has been issuing increasingly strong warnings about Armenia’s westward shift and has threatened to raise the issue of Armenia’s membership in the EAEU at the summit scheduled for May 28–29 in Astana.