Armenia’s Pashinyan sets three strategic goals: breaking with Russia, making peace with Azerbaijan, and pivoting to the EU.

Armenia’s foreign policy shift

According to UATV: Under Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia is pursuing a major reorientation of its international stance. The country aims to sever ties with Russia, deepen cooperation with the European Union, and finalize a peace agreement with Azerbaijan. These moves come amid increasingly strained relations with Moscow, with which Armenia is effectively engaged in a hybrid conflict.

Pashinyan has outlined three core objectives for the nation:

• Break away from Russian influence.
• Reach a peace deal with Azerbaijan.
• Draw as close as possible to the European Union to access new markets and cushion the economic impact on the population.

The situation is complicated by the fact that roughly 2 million Armenians live in Russia, highlighting the deep ties between the two countries. As Igor Semivolos, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, notes:

“The Russian logic is: if it worked in Georgia, it should work in Armenia too.”

This underscores the potential risks and challenges Armenia may face as it attempts to reshape its foreign policy. The country now stands at a crossroads, with decisions that could dramatically alter its future. Under Pashinyan’s leadership, Armenia is seeking new paths for development and collaboration while navigating tensions with Russia and its neighbors.

Regional impact of the shift

These changes in Armenia’s foreign policy could have significant consequences not only for its relationship with Russia but also for broader stability in the South Caucasus. Given the current geopolitical landscape, successfully implementing a peace agreement with Azerbaijan would be a crucial step toward long-term regional peace. At the same time, closer ties with the EU could unlock new economic opportunities for Armenia—but may also heighten friction with Moscow.