Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has suggested replacing the term “combat-ready army” with “defense-capable army” when speaking about the country’s armed forces – a linguistic shift he said reflects Armenia’s non-aggressive military doctrine and focus on protecting national sovereignty rather than projecting force abroad.
“It is very important to emphasize that the Armenian army must be defense-capable – meaning able to protect Armenia’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens,” Pashinyan said, as quoted by RIA Novosti.
Shift in Military Rhetoric
Pashinyan’s remarks come amid continuing efforts to redefine Armenia’s post-war security posture following the 2020 and 2023 conflicts in the South Caucasus.
The Prime Minister has repeatedly argued that Armenia’s future depends on a professional, defensive military structure and a clear commitment to avoiding external military adventures.
Analysts in Yerevan say the proposed change in terminology – from boesposobnaya, պատերազմունակ (paterazmunak), (combat-ready) to oboronosposobnaya, պաշտպանունակ (pashtpanunak), (defense-capable) – symbolizes an attempt to distance Armenia’s strategy from its past focus on regional confrontation, aligning instead with a doctrine centered on sovereignty and deterrence.
Context: Broader Policy Adjustments
The statement follows several recent government initiatives aimed at rebranding Armenia’s national identity and external image.
Earlier this month, Pashinyan caused controversy by saying that Armenian companies should no longer label their brandy as “cognac,” as that designation is legally reserved for producers in France’s Charente region – part of the country’s cultural heritage.
The Prime Minister’s rhetorical and policy adjustments come at a time when London has announced the lifting of a 30-year arms embargo on both Armenia and Azerbaijan, citing progress in peace efforts between the two neighbors.
British Deputy Foreign Minister Stephen Doughty said the move reflects “growing confidence in regional stability and dialogue.”
Strategic Reorientation
Pashinyan’s latest comments reinforce the image of a government intent on redefining Armenia’s defense philosophy – one that prioritizes self-protection over confrontation and seeks to balance national security needs with diplomatic normalization efforts.
Observers note that while symbolic, the semantic shift could pave the way for a deeper transformation of Armenia’s military doctrine – from a posture shaped by decades of frozen conflict to one rooted in defensive resilience and international alignment.
