European leaders convened in Armenia on Monday for two significant summits, signaling a shift in Yerevan’s foreign relations and deeper European ties. The European Political Community (EPC) summit brought together more than 30 European leaders plus Canada’s prime minister, marking a major diplomatic gathering in the Armenian capital [1, 2].

Following the EPC summit, Armenia will host the first ever bilateral EU-Armenia summit on Tuesday, underscoring EU interest in strengthening relations with the South Caucasus country [1].

Armenia has traditionally been seen as Russia’s closest ally in the region. It remains a member of Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union and hosts a Russian military base. The country relies heavily on Russia for energy, purchasing natural gas at a preferential rate of $177.50 per 1,000 cubic meters, compared to around $600 across most of Europe [1].

However, Armenia’s 2023 war with Azerbaijan, marked by Azerbaijan’s rapid military takeover of Nagorno-Karabakh and the displacement of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians, is viewed as a turning point in Yerevan’s ties with Moscow. Russia did not intervene during Azerbaijan’s advances and previous Azerbaijani incursions into Armenian territory went unanswered by Russia-led security structures [1].

Sargis Khandanyan, an Armenian official, said, “We realised that the security architecture that we are in was not working” and added that “the physical presence of the European Union shifted the perceptions of our citizens.” He noted a growing public demand for closer EU relations [1].

The summits occur amid broader regional concerns over security, trade, and the ongoing war in Ukraine, which is influencing the strategic calculations of many European states [2]. The European Union brokered a border recognition deal in 2024 and deployed a civilian monitoring mission along parts of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border [1].

Armenia’s parliament passed legislation in March 2025 to begin the process of joining the EU, further signaling a westward tilt in its foreign policy [1]. With a population of fewer than three million, Armenia’s geopolitical moves attract significant international attention given the country’s embedded ties with Russia [1].

The EPC summit continues through Monday with high-level discussions planned, followed by Tuesday’s historic bilateral EU-Armenia summit aimed at deepening cooperation amid shifting regional dynamics [1].