Armenia’s Delicate Balancing Act: (In)Security in the Caucasus

Author: Jeff Sahadeo (Institute of European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (EURUS).

Summary: On December 4, Prime Minister Nicol Pashinyan claimed that Armenia now considers itself
outside of the Russian-led mutual defence alliance, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
His words continue Armenia’s trajectory towards a multivector foreign and defence policy. Armenia
looks increasingly to partners such as India, France and the United States. The country remains
burdened, however, by Azerbaijan’s occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and its continued
claims on Armenian territory. Russia, Türkiye and Iran, all significantly more powerful states, hold their
own regional interests. Armenia’s location and efforts to maintain a fragile liberal democracy make it an
important pivot point for regional stability. With its large Armenian diaspora, its new embassy in Yerevan
and its relationships with countries involved in Armenia, Canada should play an important role in
Armenian security. Stéphane Dion’s visit to Armenia and meeting with Prime Minister Pashinyan on
December 6 is a strong step in signaling Canada’s support.

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