Defense minister says army reform long planned

PanARMENIAN.Net - Defense Minister Suren Papikyan addressed the National Assembly regarding the proposed reduction in the duration of mandatory military service, emphasizing that this move has been planned well in advance.

“To say we are downsizing the army is, to put it mildly, absurd. This idea is not new. Those accusing us of making rash or election-driven decisions should first read the government’s program,” he said, according to Panorama.am .

The minister noted that the government had made a clear commitment: to reduce the term of mandatory service over five years by increasing the number of contract soldiers.

“This is written in black and white. Secondly, the conceptual framework for transforming Armenia’s armed forces also includes this commitment. I believe this fully explains that this is the result of long-term planning,” Papikyan stated.

He also highlighted the “Defender of the Homeland” program, through which many citizens, after completing six months of service, choose to continue their service as contract soldiers.

“That number has already reached several thousand,” he added.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that starting January 1, 2026, the length of mandatory military service will be reduced from two years to 1.5 years.