Armenia's Prime Minister Announces Plans to Launch EU Membership Bid
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told parliament that Armenia will soon start the process of applying for European Union membership, despite Moscow's objections.
In a parliamentary address, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that Armenia intends to begin the formal steps toward an EU membership application in the near future. He emphasized that a national referendum would follow the submission, reflecting the country's desire to deepen ties with Europe while still a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. Moscow, which maintains a military base in Armenia, has repeatedly warned that dual alignment with Western and Russian blocs is untenable, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov pointing to mismatched trade and customs rules.
The Russian president has likened Armenia's potential shift to the "Ukrainian scenario" that began with Kyiv's EU aspirations. Pashinyan, re-elected after hosting EU leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, faces increasing pressure from Russia, which has imposed import restrictions as a response to Yerevan's growing closeness to Brussels.
Why it matters
Armenia's EU bid could reshape regional alliances and affect Russia's influence in the South Caucasus.
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