Armenia's Foreign and Security Policy: Is Complementarity Possible?

Emerging from the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenia has only recently reappeared on the world map. As a new state, with a growing Diaspora, it is still exploring its past and present security situation, which requires sustained analysis – in particular for a young political entity. In this context, Armenia’s security is important for its own existence, but also for the whole South Caucasus area, for regional powers like Russia, Turkey and Iran, as well as for the US, NATO and the EU. The region is indeed at the crossroad of the interests of many actors, from close by or far away. ¹ Much of the attention has been focused on the protracted conflicts over Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh, and the issue of existing de facto states. Over the last years, key political events have raised increased interests. Presidential elections were held in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in 2008; a referendum was organised in the last two states; and above all, a war was fought in Georgia. These developments have created a new environment for regional conflicts, military alliances and energy projects, while local societies are still involved in a transition towards democracy and a free market economy.