Political analyst: Pashinyan turns to Erdogan as political guide

Armenian political analyst Vigen Hakobyan shared his insights on the shifting geopolitical priorities of Armenia, emphasizing that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's primary allegiance lies with Türkiye rather than the West or Russia.

"The Armenian authorities position themselves as a pro-Western force in the morning, pro-Iranian in the afternoon, and pro-Russian in the evening. However, the primary focus of the authorities and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in particular, is Türkiye," he noted while speaking to Armenian media, Caliber.Az reports.

Hakobyan emphasized, "I have been saying this for a long time, but recent events have very clearly demonstrated that the main geopolitical priority of the Armenian authorities, particularly the head of the government, is Türkiye. The authorities' anti-Russian and pro-Western rhetoric serves merely as a backdrop to conceal the reality. The head of the government has repeatedly hinted at his true priorities, stating that Armenia's security guarantees lie within our region."

He further noted that the West is currently trying to maximize the use of incumbent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's tenure but does not take him seriously.

"The West has recognized that Pashinyan will not see his initiatives through to completion due to his concerns about the reactions of Russia and Iran. Russia, for its part, views the current government with great distrust and seeks to minimize its dealings with it. Pashinyan understands that, under the current circumstances, neither the West nor Russia will act as guarantors for the agreements he has signed or for the continuity of his power," Hakobyan stated. He added that the only party genuinely interested in the longevity of Pashinyan's rule in Armenia is Türkiye.

"From this perspective, I believe Pashinyan views his meeting with Erdogan at the Turkish House as a personal victory, as it allowed him to find a political father in the Turkish president," he concluded.

By Tamilla Hasanova