Armenia's Prime Minister recently visited Moscow to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin amidst escalating tensions between the two countries. The meeting took place following a summit of the Eurasian Economic Union, a Moscow-dominated economic alliance that both leaders attended. The discussions come in the wake of Putin's fifth term inauguration at the Kremlin.
During the talks, Putin acknowledged the growth in bilateral trade but also mentioned 'some issues concerning security in the region.' Pashinyan, Armenia's Prime Minister, highlighted that certain issues have arisen since his last visit to Moscow in December.
The strained relationship between Armenia and Russia stems from Azerbaijan's military campaign in September to reclaim the Karabakh region, which ended decades of ethnic Armenian separatists' rule. Armenian authorities have accused Russian peacekeepers deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh of failing to prevent Azerbaijan's offensive. Moscow, with a military base in Armenia, has refuted these claims, stating that its troops lacked the mandate to intervene.
Russia has expressed displeasure over Armenia's efforts to strengthen ties with the West and distance itself from Moscow-dominated alliances. Armenia recently announced its decision to halt payments to the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Russia-led security pact. Additionally, Armenia's move to join the International Criminal Court, which indicted Putin for alleged war crimes related to Ukraine, has further strained relations.
Despite these tensions, the Kremlin has emphasized its commitment to dialogue with Armenia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged existing challenges in bilateral relations but affirmed the political will to continue discussions.
As Armenia navigates its foreign policy balancing act between Russia and the West, the outcome of the talks between Pashinyan and Putin will be closely watched for potential shifts in the geopolitical landscape of the region.
