Armenia's Pivot Away from Russia: Strategic Ambitions Versus Practical Constraints

Abstract

The paper examines Armenia's evolving foreign policy, highlighting its attempts to pull away from reliance on Russia in favor of diversified security cooperation, especially with Western countries and India. This pivot was catalyzed by Azerbaijan's aggression and the perceived inaction, if not complacency, of the CSTO. However, Armenia remains economically intertwined with Russia, affecting the pace and depth of its geopolitical reorientation. Amid such global trends as rising multipolarity and varying levels of Western support, Armenia's foreign policy trajectory shows signs of returning to a new and modified balancing act: engagement with the West is deeper than ever before, but pragmatic considerations temper aspirations for deeper Western integration. That being said, bilateral relations with Moscow can best be characterized as cold and pragmatic in both capitals, with occasional flare-ups triggered by Moscow's response to Yerevan's attempts to build closer relations with the West.