Armenia faces a precarious foreign policy balancing act amid regional tensions from Iran, Israel, and the US, risking entanglement in major power rivalries.
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Armenia faces complex security and foreign policy challenges due to the Iran-Israel conflict and US involvement, requiring it to maintain a delicate balance. Relations with Israel are strained by its alliance with Azerbaijan, which has supported military actions against Armenia. Conversely, Armenia has strengthened ties with the US through a strategic partnership, aiming to diversify its security away from Russia. Pragmatic cooperation exists between Armenia and Iran despite their differing political systems. Geopolitically, Armenia is caught between competing regional visions: Azerbaijan’s demand for an extraterritorial “Zangezur Corridor,” which is backed by Russia and Turkey, threatens Armenia’s integrity. Armenia promotes its sovereign “Crossroads for Peace” initiative, while the Aras Corridor bypasses Armenia entirely. Iran acts as a crucial security buffer for Armenia against Azerbaijan, opposing the Zangezur Corridor. Armenia’s economic lifeline depends on its borders with Iran and Georgia. While the US and EU provide deterrents against Azerbaijani aggression, Armenia’s need to balance its relationship between the US and Iran—who are rivals in the Iran-Israel conflict—leaves it vulnerable to becoming a casualty of broader regional rivalries. Furthermore, the region faces risks from the erosion of international law due to unilateral military actions and the potential for instability from a change in Iran’s regime.
