Armenia Announces Plans to Move Toward EU Membership
Armenia has officially announced its intention to pursue closer ties with the European Union, marking another significant step away from its traditional alliance with Russia.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told Parliament that Armenia intends to begin the process of seeking EU membership “in the near future,” signaling Yerevan’s desire to strengthen its political and economic relationship with the West.
The announcement has further strained Armenia’s already deteriorating relations with Moscow. Russia has responded with measures targeting Armenian agricultural products, including restrictions on imports, according to reports.
Armenia has historically maintained close political, economic and military ties with Russia and has been a member of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). However, relations have sharply deteriorated in recent years.
Yerevan has repeatedly criticized Moscow over what Armenian authorities described as a failure to provide sufficient support during its conflict with Azerbaijan, particularly following Azerbaijan’s 2023 military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenia’s push toward the EU could further reshape the geopolitical balance in the South Caucasus and deepen tensions between Yerevan and Moscow.