Disappointed by Moscow

Former ally considers joining the EU

Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is seeking closer ties with the EU.

(Bild: APA/AFP/FREDERICK FLORIN)

Armenia feels increasingly let down by its traditional protecting power Russia and is moving closer to the USA and the EU. Especially in the war with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which was lost and had to be ceded in the fall, the government in Yerevan missed the help of the Russian peacekeeping troops stationed there. In the meantime, accession to the EU is apparently also being considered.

"Many new possibilities are currently being discussed in Armenia - especially in view of the developments of recent years - and it is no secret when I say that this includes membership of the European Union," said Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in an interview with the Turkish television station TRT World. The interview was conducted on Friday on the sidelines of a diplomatic meeting in Antalya.

EU observer mission in Armenia
Mirsojan stated that the "Armenian people have European ambitions". "We are in the midst of a process whose end no one can predict," the Foreign Minister continued. The minister also emphasized that "for the first time in history, the EU is involved in security issues in this region". The Armenian politician was referring to the EU observer mission on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, which has been running since February 2023.

Armenia has already suspended its membership of the Russian-led military alliance CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) since February. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has deepened relations with Europe and the USA, which has met with criticism from the Russian government.