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India-Armenia Strategic Partnership: A New Geopolitical Equation in Eurasia

India's Emerging Role in the South Caucasus

In a shifting global geopolitical landscape marked by the decline of traditional power structures and the rise of assertive regional players, India is quietly emerging as a strategic partner in one of the world’s most sensitive conflict zones—the South Caucasus. Specifically, India’s growing defense, economic, and diplomatic ties with Armenia signal a calculated move to assert influence in a region long dominated by Russian, Turkish, and Western interests.

This growing India-Armenia alliance is not going unnoticed. Turkey and Azerbaijan, deeply tied by ethnicity, religion, and strategic interests, have expressed concerns over India’s expanding role in Armenia. These concerns stem largely from India’s military support to Armenia, which they see as a direct threat to regional balance and security.



India as Armenia’s Leading Defense Partner

India has rapidly become Armenia’s largest defense supplier. Over the last few years, Armenia has inked multiple arms deals with India, including the procurement of:

  • Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers
  • Swathi Weapon Locating Radars
  • Anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs)
  • Akash air defense systems
  • ATAGS and TC-20 howitzers
  • Ashwin Ballistic Missile Interceptors
  • Anti-drone technologies

This marks a significant shift for India, from being a regional power to a strategic exporter of advanced military hardware with geopolitical implications.

For Armenia, surrounded by historically hostile neighbors and still reeling from the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, these defense ties offer much-needed security and diplomatic diversification.

Why Turkey and Azerbaijan Are Alarmed

Azerbaijan sees India's arms sales to Armenia as a destabilizing factor. The two countries remain locked in a bitter dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. India’s open support for Armenia—coupled with tangible military aid—is viewed in Baku as a threat to Azerbaijan's military and strategic edge.

Turkey, a staunch supporter of Azerbaijan, also sees this emerging India-Armenia axis as a geopolitical counterweight to the growing Turkiye-Azerbaijan-Pakistan alliance. This tripartite coalition has been vocal in supporting each other diplomatically and militarily—particularly against India on the Kashmir issue.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif even thanked Azerbaijan for its support during India’s "Operation Sindoor," a major anti-terror campaign. This symbolic solidarity was matched with political statements from Turkey and China, all targeting India.

In contrast, during this very period, Armenia's Security Council Secretary made a quiet but telling visit to New Delhi, meeting India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Their discussions included not only Operation Sindoor but also broader regional issues like the Zangezur Corridor.

Zangezur Corridor: A Game-Changer in Regional Geopolitics

At the heart of much of the regional tension lies the proposed Zangezur Corridor—a land route Azerbaijan wants to build through Armenia’s Syunik Province. This would connect mainland Azerbaijan to its exclave, Nakhchivan, and indirectly to Turkey.

Turkey fully supports this project as it aligns with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s pan-Turkic vision of uniting Turkic nations through land, culture, and military cooperation. If completed, the corridor would:




  • Weaken Armenia’s sovereignty over its southern region
  • Threaten Armenia's only land access to Iran
  • Strengthen Turkish-Azerbaijani logistical and military integration

This makes the corridor far more than just a trade route. It is a strategic project that could realign power dynamics in the region.

India, by supporting Armenia’s stance against the corridor, is indirectly resisting the growing Turkish-Azerbaijani-Pakistani nexus.

The Larger Picture: Geopolitics Beyond Borders

This India-Armenia partnership needs to be seen in the broader context of regional competition:

  • Iran, a key Armenian ally and a crucial partner for India, opposes the Zangezur Corridor, fearing it would isolate Armenia and reduce Iranian leverage.
  • Russia, while traditionally Armenia's protector, is preoccupied with the Ukraine war and is seen as having ceded ground to Turkey in the South Caucasus.
  • The United States, despite supporting the Armenian cause in public forums, continues to maintain deep military ties with Turkey through NATO. Over a thousand U.S. troops are stationed in Turkey, and NATO bases like Incirlik serve as key regional outposts.

This duality in U.S. policy raises skepticism, especially in countries like India that value strategic autonomy and non-alignment.

India’s Strategic Calculus

So, why is India investing in Armenia?

1.     Counterbalance to Pakistan-Turkey-Azerbaijan Alliance: These three nations often act in concert on geopolitical issues, particularly those involving Kashmir. Supporting Armenia offers India a means to return the favor strategically.

2.     Gateway to Eurasia: Armenia provides a diplomatic and logistical bridge to Central Asia and Europe. With projects like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), India's presence in the region becomes more valuable.

3.     Support for Sovereignty and International Law: India has consistently supported Armenia’s territorial integrity, aligning with its own stance on territorial disputes.

4.     Energy Security and Trade Routes: Armenia lies at the junction of several energy pipelines and transit corridors. Its connectivity with Iran is vital for India’s plans to access Central Asia via the Chabahar port.

A Quiet But Firm Strategic Realignment

India’s growing relationship with Armenia is a clear sign of New Delhi's readiness to shape global geopolitics beyond South Asia. It is using arms diplomacy, strategic signaling, and regional alliances to assert its interests and counter rival blocs.

The partnership goes beyond transactional defense deals. It is about creating a new axis of cooperation in a region where multiple interests intersect and where silent strategic moves can have long-term consequences.

In doing so, India not only supports a beleaguered ally but also positions itself as a responsible power capable of countering authoritarian alliances, defending sovereignty, and playing a decisive role in the complex chessboard of Eurasian geopolitics. 

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