Armenia shifts toward West as relations with Russia deteriorate

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has signaled a major shift in regional foreign policy, stating that Moscow can no longer be considered Armenia’s strategic partner. This declaration follows deteriorating relations between Russia and both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Pashinyan criticized remarks by Russia’s Deputy Security Council Chair Dmitry Medvedev, who suggested that Armenia’s increasing ties with the European Union could result in the country becoming a ‘new Ukraine’. Pashinyan rejected this comparison, citing Russia’s failure to meet its defense obligations under the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) during Azerbaijani attacks in 2021 and 2022. He emphasized that Armenia is moving toward becoming an ‘increasingly sovereign state’.

Regional dynamics are further shifting due to the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a U.S.-backed transit corridor agreement signed in August 2025. Azerbaijan is pushing for the swift implementation of this route, which aims to link Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan. Armenia has expressed interest in seeking Western funding for railway infrastructure to facilitate this, citing Russian ownership of existing lines as a barrier to progress.