Armenia\u2019s government continues to push forward its rapid defense sector reforms. On October 21, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that starting January 1, 2026, the duration of mandatory military service will be reduced from two years to one and a half.<\/p>\n
The decision, already finalized, marks another step in a series of accelerated changes in Armenia\u2019s defense system \u2014 reforms that often move faster than their public explanation or understanding.<\/p>\n
According to Pashinyan, the new law was initially expected to take effect in the summer of 2026, but after consultations with the defense minister and parliament members, it will now be implemented earlier \u2014 from the winter conscript recruitment.<\/p>\n
Since the 2020 war, Armenia\u2019s defense system has remained one of the country\u2019s most debated public issues. The war experience and the shifting regional security environment have forced the state to reassess its defense strategy, army structure, and procurement policy.<\/p>\n
Experts note that Armenia is now investing unprecedented sums in the modernization of its military. \u201cAt least in terms of equipment procurement, the scale of investment since 2022 is unprecedented,\u201d says Leonid Nersisyan, senior research fellow at APRI Armenia. \u201cCompared to 2016\u20132020, procurement volumes have increased fivefold.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ongoing reforms are largely driven by the three wars of the past nine years, which exposed the weaknesses of the country\u2019s defense system and made restructuring inevitable.<\/p>\n
In May 2025, the Armenian government gave initial backing to a bill allowing conscripts to shorten their mandatory service by paying a fee \u2014 but the draft law didn\u2019t advance.<\/p>\n
Proposed by ruling-party MP Hayk Sargsyan, the scheme would have let draftees pay millions of drams to serve for just a few months instead of two years. The Defense Ministry suggested higher fees and stricter limits, and the idea was eventually shelved.<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t new: similar buyout options have surfaced repeatedly since 2019 but never made it into law. Analysts warn, however, that the concept may reappear \u2014 and if ever adopted, could weaken Armenia\u2019s defense readiness.<\/p>\n
The new regulation shortens mandatory service to 18 months. According to the government, the move is part of its 2021\u20132026 program to gradually replace conscription with professional contract-based service.<\/p>\n
Defense expert Leonid Nersisyan sees the change as a logical step but warns that success depends on recruiting enough skilled contract soldiers. \u201cIf done properly \u2014 through improving the army\u2019s image and targeted campaigns \u2014 it\u2019s realistic to replace around 4,000\u20135,000 conscripts per year with professionals,\u201d he says. \u201cBut quality matters more than numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vitali Mangasaryan, head of the \u201cHenaket\u201d Analytical Center, is more cautious: \u201cWithout a comprehensive defense concept, simply shortening the service term increases risks rather than strengthening the system. The army must first ensure sufficient human and technical resources.\u201d<\/p>\n
Paradoxically, the reform comes as Armenia plans to cut its defense budget for 2026 by 15.2%. The draft budget allocates 563 billion drams ($1.4 billion) to the Ministry of Defense \u2014 about $265 million less than in 2025.<\/p>\n
This contrasts with global trends. According to SIPRI, global military spending in 2024 reached a record $2.7 trillion \u2014 a 9.4% increase from 2023 \u2014 as most countries expanded their defense budgets amid rising geopolitical tensions.<\/p>\n
Neighboring countries are no exception. Turkey\u2019s defense budget has surged to a record $47 billion for 2025, while Azerbaijan\u2019s will reach $5.1 billion \u2014 a 3.8% increase. Armenia\u2019s defense spending remains several times smaller, continuing a three-decade imbalance between the two countries.<\/p>\n