Civilnet
By Alexander Pracht
The United Kingdom has lifted its arms embargo on Armenia and Azerbaijan, introduced in 1992, according to a statement published by Minister of State for Europe and North America, Stephen Doughty, on Monday.
In the statement, Doughty said the decision follows the progress achieved at the August 8 peace summit in Washington. He also announced that the UK government has elevated its relations with both Armenia and Azerbaijan to the level of strategic partnership, covering areas such as trade, security, and defense. The new cooperation plan will include annual ministerial meetings.
“Given the significant progress made in advancing peace, and the historic outcomes of the recent summit in Washington hosted by President Trump, the UK considers that the rationale underpinning the OSCE’s 1992 recommended arms embargo on ‘all deliveries of weapons and munitions to forces engaged in combat in the Nagorno-Karabakh area’ has fallen away,” Doughty said.
He said the decision aims to support both countries’ efforts to protect their sovereignty and territorial integrity, both against conventional and hybrid threats. Doughty noted that all export licenses for arms sales will nonetheless continue to be reviewed individually under strict criteria.
The minister added that during his visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan in late August, he discussed practical steps with the leaders of both countries to strengthen stability and security in the South Caucasus.
The decision comes at a time when the Trump administration also suspended the ban on US military aid to Azerbaijan, a measure that had been in place since 1992.
Yerevan and London pledged to upgrade their relations to a strategic partnership during a meeting in Yerevan in late August, when Minister Stephen Doughty met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and senior foreign ministry officials.
The new push for closer ties is a rare instance of deepening Armenian-British cooperation, as the UK has traditionally been viewed as closer to Azerbaijan, where companies like British Petroleum and Shell hold extensive energy interests.
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