The alliance between Russia and Armenia, a long-time ally from the Soviet era, is facing significant strain. This is due to unmet defense commitments from Moscow amid its ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Armenia has openly expressed frustration over Russia’s inability to provide support during regional disputes.
Armenia, located in Western Asia and bordered by Azerbaijan and Turkey, has historically depended on Russia for weapons. The country finds itself in a contentious situation with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory that remains a source of conflict, especially since Turkey supports Azerbaijan—an adversarial nation to Armenia, where the majority of the population is Christian.
Are You Losing Your Grip on Asia?
With the war in Ukraine stretching on, Russia has struggled to maintain relationships with its allies. It largely lost support in Syria, where the Assad regime has faced a civil war instigated by Western-backed rebels. Recently, political shifts, including support from Donald Trump for the new Syrian president, have led to significant changes in the region’s power dynamics.
Currently, Armenia’s security needs are not being met, and it faces delays in receiving weapons that have already been paid for. This has prompted Yerevan to seek out other sources.
In recent years, Armenia has turned to countries like France and India for weapons. While arms from friendly nations like India gain Russian approval, deepening ties with France raise red flags for Moscow.
“Fighting Against All of Europe”
During a recent press conference, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov acknowledged the issues in fulfilling arms contracts with Armenia. He expressed frustration over what he framed as a confrontation with Western nations. Lavrov noted, “We are now in a situation where we are forced to fight everything in Europe,” criticizing European support for Ukraine.
Beware of Armenian-French Connections
Lavrov cautioned Armenia against defense partnerships with France. Despite not explicitly opposing arms purchases from other countries, he expressed concern over Armenia’s increasing alignment with the West. He remarked, “It raises doubt when an alliance leads an adversary camp and looks at a country like France, where its president and ministers speak openly with hatred towards Russia.”
This situation is serious not just because of Moscow’s inability to deliver munitions, but also because the traditional bond with Armenia is weakening. While Armenia is officially aligned with Russia, its burgeoning relationship with the West causes significant unease in Moscow.
Armenia’s Actions Against Russia’s Interests
Recently, Armenia has taken steps that go against Russian interests, leading to reduced participation in collective security organizations like the CSTO, which is led by Russia.
Moreover, the aftermath of the conflict in Karabakh has left Armenia dissatisfied with the lack of support from Moscow. Yerevan has accused Russian peacekeeping forces of failing to protect over 100,000 ethnic Armenians who were forced to flee during Azerbaijan’s military actions in 2023.
