by David Bishop
On Monday, December 22, significant changes in the US State Department were confirmed as the Trump administration moved forward with its intention to remove dozens of ambassadors and other top-ranking diplomatic personnel around the world, including in Armenia. Though the exact personnel changes are yet to be announced, it is believed that between 30 and 35 US ambassadors will be replaced in the near future. One that is already confirmed is the recall of US Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien.
Kvien’s tenure as US ambassador heavily corresponded with strenuous US support for the government of Nikol Pashinyan. She was appointed US ambassador in Yerevan in February 2023 by the Biden administration, which heavily targeted Armenia for US NGO and corporate expansion as an “emerging democracy”. Having previously served as a US representative in Ukraine, Kvien was also an experienced diplomatic officer for the Biden administration in its anti-Russian campaigns throughout the former Soviet Union, for which they also heavily invested in the Pashinyan government in the hope of developing anti-Russian and pro-Western foreign policy in Armenia. Because of this heavy emphasis on neoliberal NGOs and Western corporations and organizations, the US under the Biden administration staunchly supported Pashinyan, and Kristina Kvien was a competent person for the job of advancing that support from the US Embassy in Yerevan.
Nonetheless, the current reorganization of US diplomacy is reportedly aimed at ridding the current US administration of vestiges of Biden-era foreign policy and replacing those personnel with diplomatic officers who will advance the Trump administration’s foreign policy ideology of “America First”. Moreover, strict loyalty to Donald Trump is also reportedly expected from new appointees. Though the US interest in Armenia has not fundamentally changed since the onset of the Trump administration, as is seen in American ambitions to develop various projects in Armenia including the infamous “Trump Route”, the nature of US interaction with Armenia may gradually change in light of the enforcement of “America First” ideology among the US diplomatic corps. Judging by the precedents of changed US approaches to many other countries, including Armenia’s neighbor Georgia, it can be expected that US relations under new leadership will likely take on a more transactional nature, staying away from the ideological programs of previous administrations aimed at “promoting Democracy” and instead focusing on business and economic ties. Nonetheless, no new US ambassador has yet been announced in Armenia, so time will tell exactly what changes the removal of Ambassador Kvien may bring.
The significance of US diplomatic relations would be difficult to exaggerate for Pashinyan. With no small amount of American assistance, Nikol Pashinyan has gained opportunities to carry out a large-scale purge of the opposition and to strengthen his own power. Several similar initiatives were carried out under the guidance of Ambassador Kvien. One US initiative during her tenure included reforms of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. With U.S. assistance, the Patrol Police Service was created in 2024, as well as the Police Guard in 2025, the latter specializing in suppressing mass unrest. This is very important to the government of Pashinyan, as the imposition of Pashinyan initiatives by force (such as captures of churches or arrests of priests) is one of the current government’s favorite activities.
Furthermore, Kvien’s US diplomatic delegation actively worked with Armenia’s Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Court in order to promote amendments to the Armenian Constitution that satisfy Azerbaijani demands. This is part of the heavy involvement of the US in promotion of a settlement with Azerbaijan that is unfavorable to Armenia, which reached its climax with the famous August 8 “peace-signing” event in Washington. This event did not resolve any of the various humanitarian issues concerning the status of Artsakh refugees of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan, nor did it achieve any security guarantees for the Republic of Armenia. However, the United States will now receive a century-long lease on a corridor through Syunik in order to build infrastructure for the “Trump Route”, which many liken to the Azerbaijani plan for a “Zangezur Corridor”.
Armenia today remains in a state of uncertainty concerning its foreign policy prospects with respect to the United States along with a number of other countries. Nonetheless, the predictable pattern of US relations with Armenia now seems to be systematic forcing of Armenia to accept Azerbaijani demands along with the exploitation of Armenia for US economic interests. The appointment of a new US ambassador in Yerevan is unlikely to change this fundamental dynamic, though it may bring certain changes to the tone of US ideological rhetoric as the US shifts to an “America First” foreign policy position.
