Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited Moscow to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid increasing tensions between the two allies. The negotiations took place following a summit of the Eurasian Economic Union, a Moscow-dominated economic alliance that both leaders attended. Putin acknowledged “some issues concerning security in the region,” while Pashinyan pointed out that “certain issues have piled up” since his last visit to Moscow in December. The strained relationship between Armenia and Russia began after Azerbaijan launched a military campaign in September to reclaim the Karabakh region from ethnic Armenian separatists, leading to accusations against Russian peacekeepers for failing to stop the onslaught.
Armenia’s ties with Russia have deteriorated further as Pashinyan has made efforts to deepen relations with the West and distance the country from Moscow-dominated security and economic alliances. Armenia announced it would stop paying fees to the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Russia-dominated security pact, and had previously suspended its participation in the grouping to bolster ties with the European Union and NATO. Additionally, Armenia’s decision to join the International Criminal Court, which indicted Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, further strained relations with Russia. Despite these tensions, the Kremlin expressed a desire to continue dialogue with Armenia, acknowledging existing problems but maintaining a political will to address them.
Moscow has been displeased with Armenia’s shifting allegiances and closer ties to the West, viewing it as a threat to its traditional influence in the region. The Kremlin, preoccupied with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, has publicly voiced concerns about Yerevan’s westward shift but sought to downplay the differences between the two countries. The Russian military base in Armenia further complicates the relationship, as Moscow has a strong presence in the country and has been accused of not intervening effectively during the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Pashinyan’s efforts to distance Armenia from Russia and his attempts to forge closer ties with the EU and NATO have strained the historical alliance between the two nations.
Armenia’s tensions with Russia have been exacerbated by the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as Pashinyan’s efforts to seek closer relations with Western powers. The situation was further complicated by Armenia’s decision to stop paying fees to Russia-dominated security pacts and join the International Criminal Court, leading to more disagreement between the two countries. Despite the strained relationship, both sides expressed a desire to continue the dialogue, with Russia acknowledging the existing problems and expressing a political will to address them. The shifting dynamics in the region and Armenia’s attempts to diversify its alliances have created a complex situation that will require diplomatic efforts to resolve the differences between the two nations.
The visit of Armenia’s Prime Minister to Moscow highlighted the strained relationship between the two allies, as tensions continue to escalate amidst disagreements over security arrangements and regional influence. Armenia’s attempts to distance itself from Russia-dominated alliances and strengthen ties with the West have irked Moscow, which views these moves as a challenge to its traditional dominance in the region. Pashinyan’s efforts to navigate Armenia’s foreign policy in a shifting geopolitical landscape have created challenges in the long-standing partnership with Russia. Despite the existing problems, both sides expressed a willingness to continue the dialogue, underscoring the complexity of the situation and the need for diplomatic efforts to address the differences between Armenia and Russia.
