In a landmark visit signaling a major shift in the South Caucasus, Vice President JD Vance arrived in Yerevan on Monday, February 9, 2026. This historic trip makes him the highest-ranking U.S. official to ever visit Armenia, underscoring the Trump administration’s commitment to peeling the former Soviet republic away from Russian and Iranian influence.
At Modern Memo, we break down the multibillion-dollar energy deal, the “Trump Route” for peace, and the strategic implications of this new American partnership in the region.
The $9 Billion Nuclear Breakthrough
The center-piece of Vance’s visit was the signing of a joint statement concluding negotiations on a “123 Agreement”—the legally binding framework required for the United States to export nuclear technology and fuel.
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Energy Independence: Armenia currently relies on the aging, Russian-built Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant for roughly 40% of its electricity. This deal paves the way for American companies to build modern Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), effectively breaking Moscow’s energy stranglehold on Yerevan.
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Economic Win-Win: Vance announced that the agreement would underpin up to $9 billion in U.S. engagement. This includes an initial $5 billion tranche for technology and exports, followed by $4 billion in long-term maintenance and fuel contracts.
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American Jobs: The Vice President emphasized that the deal would create thousands of high-quality jobs in the United States while providing Armenia with “safe, innovative, and reliable” power.
The “Trump Route” for Peace and Prosperity
Vance’s visit follows the U.S.-brokered peace accord signed last August between Armenia and Azerbaijan, ending decades of hostilities over the Karabakh region. The Vice President is in Yerevan to push the implementation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP).
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The Corridor: This proposed 43-kilometer (27-mile) transit corridor through southern Armenia would connect mainland Azerbaijan to its exclave, Nakhchivan, and onward to Turkey.
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Global Trade Hub: Washington envisions the “Trump Route” as a transformative East-West trade artery that bypasses both Russia and Iran. Vance described it as a “regional hub for economic growth” that would draw massive private investment into Armenia.
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Leasing Rights: A key feature of the peace framework gives the United States significant shares in the development company overseeing the corridor’s infrastructure, ensuring American oversight of this strategic gateway.
Defense and Tech: Beyond Energy
In a move that signifies a deepening security relationship, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed Armenia’s first-ever purchase of U.S. military technology.
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V-BAT Drones: Armenia has acquired U.S.-made V-BAT surveillance drones, a step that follows years of joint “Eagle Partner” military exercises.
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The Silicon Push: Vance also announced new export licenses for high-powered Nvidia chips, aiming to establish Armenia as a regional center for data centers and semiconductor research.
Geopolitical Realities: Outpacing Russia
Vance’s arrival in Yerevan is a clear signal that the “Maximum Pressure” era has evolved into a “Maximum Engagement” strategy for allies in Russia’s backyard.
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The Affinity Factor: Speaking alongside Pashinyan, Vance highlighted his personal affinity for Armenia as “one of the oldest Christian cultures in the entire world,” a framing that resonates with the administration’s focus on protecting religious heritage.
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The Azerbaijan Stop: Following his meetings in Yerevan, the Vice President will travel to Baku on Tuesday to meet with President Ilham Aliyev, ensuring both sides of the peace deal remain committed to the February 19 “Peace Council” session scheduled at the White House.
Final Word
Staying informed on the Vice President’s mission to Armenia isn’t just about foreign diplomacy—it plays a powerful role in your understanding of how the U.S. uses economic leverage to reshape global power. When you look past the headlines and focus on the data of “123 Agreements” and “trade corridors,” you gain a clearer picture of the strategy to replace Russian dependency with American technology.
Quality information replaces the noise of regional conflict with the clarity of strategic energy and trade benchmarks. It allows you to see this historic visit as a calculated move to secure a new, stable partner in a vital part of the world. By choosing to follow the facts of the agreements rather than the rhetoric of the past, you align your perspective with the realities of modern geopolitics and support a more informed, resilient national outlook.
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