In the new issue of the Caucasus Analytical Digest, Tigran Grigoryan and Eduard Arakelyan analyze the transformation of Armenia’s defense policy following the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The article, titled “From Dependence to Diversification: Armenia’s Defense Policy Reorientation After Russia’s War in Ukraine,” argues that the post-2022 period marked a turning point in Armenia’s security strategy. As Russia’s role weakened—amid unfulfilled commitments and strategic overstretch—Yerevan began to diversify its partnerships and reduce its dependence on Moscow.
The authors trace this shift across several directions: the reduction of Russian weapon supplies, the expansion of procurement from partners such as India and France, the freezing of participation in the CSTO, as well as the termination of bilateral military exercises and other formats of defense cooperation.
At the same time, the limitations of this process are highlighted. Structural dependence on Russian systems and legacy mechanisms continues to constrain Armenia’s strategic autonomy.