EU Member States Greenlight Deployment of Rapid Response Hybrid Threat Team to Armenia

BRUSSELS — Foreign ministers of European Union member states have given the green light to proceed with sending a rapid response team to Armenia to address hybrid threats, according to sources in Brussels cited by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Earlier, ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 7, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan had formally requested assistance from the European Union to help counter potential hybrid threats.

The new mission is expected to consist of 9 to 14 specialists tasked with combating foreign disinformation, interference, and cyber threats. According to a statement obtained by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Armenia is facing intensified hybrid activities that are likely to escalate further in the run-up to the elections.

The team is expected to be deployed in Armenia in late March or early April for a period of 10 to 15 working days. It will provide advisory support to the Armenian government on crisis management and intelligence-sharing across various electoral scenarios.

Additionally, the mission will assist relevant authorities in identifying cases of illegal election financing and help raise public awareness about foreign interference in electoral processes.

At the conclusion of the mission, a report is expected to be prepared outlining next steps for Brussels’ engagement with Armenia. This could include the deployment of a full-scale EU civilian mission in Armenia, replacing the current EU mission established in 2023 to support stability in border areas between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Such a deployment would require unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states, the source added.