Why Armenia Matters
Mission Statement
Save Armenia mobilizes and unites American Christians to defend and support Armenia, the first Christian nation, amid ongoing existential threats. We build and sustain a broad-based coalition prepared to advocate, influence policy, and respond when needed to safeguard Armenia’s security, sovereignty, and survival.
Armenia's Historical Significance
Armenia holds a unique place in world history and the story of Christianity. In the early fourth century, Armenia became the first nation to adopt Christianity as its official religion, a legacy that continues to define its national and cultural identity today.
At the heart of this legacy is the Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the oldest continuous Christian communities in the world. For centuries, the Church has shaped Armenian spiritual life, culture, and national consciousness, often under conditions of persecution and political upheaval.
A History Marked by Survival
Armenia’s history is also marked by profound suffering. Between 1915 and 1917, the Ottoman government carried out systematic persecution, mass killings, forced deportations, and death marches against Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire, events widely recognized by scholars and many governments as the Armenian Genocide.
An estimated 600,000 to 1.5 million Armenians were killed through direct violence, starvation, disease, and exposure as families were driven from their homes into the Syrian desert and other inhospitable regions.
Hundreds of thousands more were permanently displaced, creating one of the largest diasporas of the twentieth century. Survivors lost their ancestral lands, property, and communities, losses from which many families have never recovered.
This collective trauma, known as Medz Yeghern (the Great Calamity), is not confined to history. It continues to shape Armenian identity, security concerns, and the deep commitment to survival shared by Armenians around the world.
Armenia’s story is one of faith, endurance, and determination, a legacy that gives its future significance far beyond its borders.
The Threat Environment Today
Armenia faces a persistent and complex security environment. Its sovereignty remains under pressure amid regional instability and recurring conflict along its borders.
In 2023, Azerbaijan’s military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh led to the displacement of nearly the entire ethnic Armenian population of the region, raising urgent concerns about civilian protection, territorial integrity, and long-term stability.
The Washington Accord
On August 8, 2025, leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan met at the White House and initialed a U.S.-brokered Joint Declaration aimed at ending nearly four decades of conflict. The agreement committed both sides to:
- Refrain from the use of force
- Respect territorial integrity
- Pursue diplomatic normalization
- Expand economic cooperation
- Establish a transit corridor linking Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan through Armenian territory
This accord represented a meaningful diplomatic step, reducing the immediate risk of large-scale escalation and opening space for negotiation and cooperation.
Ongoing Risks
Despite its promise, the accord did not resolve core threats facing Armenia. Critical issues remain unresolved, including:
- Final ratification of a comprehensive peace treaty
- The rights and status of displaced Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh
- Border delimitation
- Reliable security guarantees
- Occupation of Armenian territory seized in previous years
Implementation depends on sustained political will, legal reforms, and continued international engagement. Without these, Armenia’s strategic vulnerabilities persist, and the risk of renewed tension remains real.
Armenia and Religious Freedom
Religious freedom is inseparable from Armenia’s national identity. The overwhelming majority of Armenians belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church, a faith community that has endured centuries of persecution and displacement.
Armenia’s constitution affirms religious freedom and recognizes the historic role of the Armenian Church. However, threats to the nation’s security also place pressure on the institutions that sustain religious and cultural life.
Protecting Armenia means protecting the right of a people to live openly according to their faith, traditions, and conscience, a struggle that resonates with faith communities worldwide.
Armenia and Broader Western Interests
Armenia’s importance extends beyond faith and history.Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Armenia sits in a region shaped by energy routes, trade corridors, and competing global powers.
For the United States and its allies, Armenia represents:
- A partner seeking democratic resilience
- A frontline defender of religious freedom and human rights
- A stabilizing presence in an increasingly volatile region
Engagement with Armenia aligns both moral responsibility and strategic interest, reinforcing commitments to a rules-based international order.
Moral Urgency and Policy Urgency
Armenia’s story demands moral attention, but moral concern alone is not enough.
The challenges Armenia faces require informed policy engagement, strategic advocacy, and sustained leadership. Decisions made today by governments and institutions will determine whether Armenia can achieve lasting security and resilience.
Save Armenia exists at this intersection of moral urgency and policy urgency—working to ensure Armenia’s challenges are understood, its voice is heard, and concrete action supports its freedom, security, and future.
Why This Matters to You
Armenia’s future is a test of whether the international community will:
- Defend religious freedom
- Protect vulnerable nations
- Uphold the principles that underpin global stability
For people of faith, advocates of freedom, and leaders concerned with international security, Armenia matters because its survival affirms values that transcend borders.
Save Armenia invites leaders, communities, and partners to stand with Armenia, not only to respond to crisis, but to help build a resilient and secure future for generations to come.