Euractiv: Events in Georgia could challenge Armenia’s aspirations to deepen cooperation with the West

Georgia’s recent parliamentary elections have sent ripples through Armenia, deepening anxieties in Yerevan over the region’s shifting geopolitical dynamics, Euractiv writes.

As noted, concerns are mounting about heightened Russian influence, reduced European engagement, and the implications for Armenia’s own foreign policy trajectory.

The need for cooperation between Armenia and Georgia is asymmetric, with Armenia largely depending on Georgia as its main transit route to the world.

Nevertheless, elections in Georgia rarely receive as much attention in Armenia as the 26 October parliamentary elections, with many Armenian experts deeply disappointed not only by the results, but also the hasty congratulations extended by the Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, to his Georgian counterpart. However, when it comes to bilateral relations, analysts seem to agree that cooperation with Georgia is more important than a critical evaluation of elections violations by the Armenian government.

If Georgian Dream manages to stay in power, experts believe Russia’s role in the region will be strengthened, further challenging Armenia’s aspirations to deepen its cooperation with the West.

In the last two years, Armenia has tried to diversify its arms imports by signing deals with France and India. However, the practicalities of importing arms into the country remain complicated. Many in Yerevan worry that a more pro-Russian Georgia might mean a weakened European presence in the region as a whole.

“Whether Armenia manages to avoid making the Russia vs West narrative the core talking point in the run up to the 2026 parliamentary elections is yet to be seen, but some experts argue that this geographic political polarization is going to be inevitable. There is a possibility that the Armenian ruling party will try to avoid the same scenario by positioning itself as the so-called arbiter between the pro-European parties and the pro-Russian opposition,” reads the article.