U.S. and Armenia Formalise Civil Nuclear Cooperation Deal

The agreement was signed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and U.S. Vice President JD Vance during a joint appearance in Yerevan, according to statements from both governments.

The so-called 123 Agreement provides the legal basis required under U.S. law for the licensing of nuclear exports. Vance said the framework could enable up to $5 billion in initial U.S. exports, with a further $4 billion linked to long-term fuel supply and maintenance contracts.

Pashinyan said the agreement marked a new phase in bilateral energy cooperation.

Nuclear Energy Plans in Armenia

Armenia operates a single nuclear power plant, the Russian-built Metsamor facility, which has been in service for decades. The government is reviewing proposals from U.S., Russian, Chinese, French and South Korean companies to construct a replacement reactor.

No decision has yet been announced.

Russia’s Position

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told the newspaper Izvestia that Russia had submitted a proposal through state nuclear company Rosatom. He said Rosatom was ready to move forward with the project if selected, citing existing technology and financing terms.

Regional Diplomacy and Infrastructure

Vance’s visit comes six months after Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders signed an agreement at the White House aimed at advancing a peace process after nearly 40 years of conflict.

During the trip, Vance is also promoting the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a proposed 43-kilometre corridor across southern Armenia that would connect Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave and onward to Türkiye. The project includes plans for rail links, pipelines and fibre-optic infrastructure.

Next Stop: Azerbaijan

U.S. officials say the initiative is designed to pair peace efforts with economic development across the region. Vance is scheduled to travel on to Azerbaijan later this week, as Washington continues its diplomatic push in the South Caucasus.