Armenia’s New Challenges: How Should the West Respond?

As its region grows increasingly turbulent, the Republic of Armenia strives to continue the delicate balancing act it has pursued since independence, deepening ties with the West while remaining allied to Russia. Yet shifts in both the domestic and foreign political environments portend new difficulties for Armenia. At home, the move toward a parliamentary system following the controversial December 2015 constitutional referendum has raised concerns about the state of democracy. Meanwhile, the crisis in relations between Russia and the West, coupled with the potential resumption of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, which briefly broke into open conflict in the spring of 2016, threatens regional stability. Amid these tectonic shifts, how can Western policy towards Armenia be better calibrated to advance goals of regional peace, security, and development?

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