What Will Be the Fate of Armenia's Western Grant Networks?

The newspaper "Pats" reports: On the very first day of taking office, US President Donald Trump signed a number of executive orders, one of which suspends all foreign aid programs for 90 days. Moreover, the new administration must clarify whether these programs align with the political goals set forth by Trump.

This has raised significant concerns among various sectors in different countries that have long relied on American funding, including that of USAID. Addressing the issue, the Telegram channel "Republic Square" informs that the USAID branch in Ukraine has been instructed to stop all programs and expenditures in that country.

It is possible that Armenian NGOs, which are connected to USAID and receive funding from it, will also cease their activities in Armenia in the near future,” write the authors, adding that the new decision by Trump's administration has caused panic among Armenia’s grant-dependent NGOs, as they may lose their funding and either halt their operations or begin searching for alternative sources of financing.

It is noted that for decades, there has been a network of Western, particularly American-funded NGOs in Armenia that have engaged in promoting Western interests, as well as in anti-Russian propaganda. This involves millions of dollars in total.

“George Soros has created an ‘empire of NGOs’ in Armenia and various corners of the world; through these NGOs, he conducts color revolutions or alters the foreign policies of those countries. Soros has his own interests, which may align or not align with the geopolitical interests and objectives of the US. Soros could increase the funding volumes of NGOs if the US decides to cut financing for the NGOs operating in Armenia. The authorities in Armenia have had close ties with these NGOs, and these NGOs enjoyed support from the ruling party.

Now, as Donald Trump, who wishes to end the Ukrainian war and normalize relations with Russia, replaces globalist supporter Biden, the networks dependent on Western grants in Armenia are taking a timeout to understand their future fate,” writes the "Republic Square" channel. They further add that the current authorities of Armenia are also in a wait-and-see situation and have announced that they want to reinforce ties with Trump’s new administration, sending a message to the White House.

According to the authors, if the US decides to no longer fund the many NGOs present in Armenia, the Armenian authorities could take on the funding of these NGOs themselves by providing various grants to those organizations; however, by doing so, they would oppose Trump’s administration and the US embassy, which would have geopolitical repercussions for the current authorities. Therefore, they will not overtly challenge Trump.

“Alternatively, these NGOs could find funding from other Western embassies. France, Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, and possibly Canada and other countries might take on the funding of these NGOs, thereby also gaining leverage over Armenia's domestic political situation and opposing Trump,” the authors write, adding that in the event of a normalization of US-Russia relations, Washington would no longer wish to fund NGOs involved in anti-Russian and Russophobic propaganda, which would also serve as a geopolitical gesture toward Moscow.