Armenia — a bargaining chip in France’s games Phantom sovereignty

On the eve of the opening of the honorary French consulate in Goris, Armenia, the event was naturally inflated to almost planetary significance within the country. Almost all Armenian media extensively covered the topic, highlighting the visit of the French ambassador Olivier Decottignies  and several local officials of various ranks. 

At the same time, alongside this "grand event," the 5th Forum of Armenia-France Decentralized Cooperation took place in the same city, where, naturally, there were speeches reminiscent of those heard at Soviet-era collective farm meetings.

One speaker followed another, and we might have ignored their statements if it weren’t for the fact that in the end, something was said that the Armenian side presents as a source of pride, but which in reality should be regarded as a national and state humiliation.

The author of this opus is the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia, David Khudatyan. He notably declared that one of the priorities of the Armenian government is to increase the resilience of Syunik (Zangezur — ed.). The desire is, in principle, normal. However, only if the Armenian government led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan were to tackle these issues themselves. But the point is, Armenia has once again decided to demonstrate its own incapacity by entrusting such an important matter to another country.

“France plays a key role among our international partners on this issue,” Khudatyan reported.

Let us suppose that, in his eagerness to ingratiate himself, he did not even realise the shameful truth he was revealing. Because, in essence, this is an admission of the deep-rooted failure of Armenian statehood in its current form. Exactly that — nothing less.

The expressions of gratitude towards Paris, echoed across various Armenian platforms, are less diplomatic pleasantries and more an acknowledgment of systemic dependence, which is increasingly taking hold in Armenian politics. The truth here is so stark that, to borrow the words of a classic, it becomes shameful — a feeling long forgotten by the Armenian side.

Khudatyan’s words testify to a profound institutional crisis, in which external support is no longer seen as a mere supplement but has become the very foundation. De facto, Armenia is outsourcing key state functions — including security, economic development, healthcare, and education — to foreign states and organisations. This approach turns Yerevan from a sovereign ally into a client state.

In essence, Khudatyan acknowledged that Armenia has become a state of proxy, where power exists only because it is supported by patrons. It turns out that official Yerevan sees Paris as almost the guarantor of its own existence. Such a position is humiliating for any people claiming sovereignty, undermines trust in state institutions within the country, and calls into question the government’s ability to act in the interests of its own citizens.

Moreover, considering the recent warm embraces in Yerevan with the French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot — a protégé of President Emmanuel Macron — it becomes even more obvious that Armenia has fully shifted its security issues onto France’s shoulders. Undoubtedly, France takes various steps solely based on its own interests, trying in any way to hold onto the remnants of its influence in the South Caucasus after all of official Paris’s attempts to prevent the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity ended in failure. But that is exactly the point: the Armenian leadership has turned its country into a bargaining chip in foreign geopolitical games.

Earlier, Armenia pulled exactly the same trick, submissively playing the role of Russia’s outpost in the Caucasus. Now, it is effectively relinquishing what remains of its sovereignty and independence in favour of France.

Looking at all these antics of official Yerevan, one understands why the Armenian leadership never supported Azerbaijan’s demand to dissolve the useless OSCE Minsk Group. A servant simply cannot act against the will of their master.