Armenia is of no interest to Trump — Igor Semenovsky

Speaking with Alpha News, Russian political scientist Igor Semenovsky commented on the relations between Armenia and Russia and the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Yerevan.

“The range of issues that has developed despite our strategic partnership over the past 30 years cannot be resolved in a single visit of the foreign minister. There have already been quite extensive meetings of heads of state, but here a deeper and more specialized study of these issues and the identification of common strategic sectors is needed.

Lavrov’s visit happened amid deliberately protesting citizens who do not represent the society of Armenia, but who shape an image for the Western press, for a certain, internal part of the Armenian society. Against this setting, Lavrov’s press conference concludes with questions framed in an anti-Russian narrative—accusatory in tone, touching on everything from Nagorno-Karabakh to allegations of Russian interference in Armenia’s internal affairs,” the political scientist noted.

According to the expert, Armenia is one of the main beneficiaries of the Eurasian economic integration.

“Here we see a continuation of the game—trying to have it both ways. Many in the world succeed in this, including neighboring Turkey, but Turkey is a unique example when it really manages to effectively apply for BRICS and at the same time be a member of NATO. This can go on and on, but if you look at it pragmatically, Armenia is certainly one of the main beneficiaries of the Eurasian economic integration, and it is clear why the parties have repeatedly emphasized the growth of trade turnover to almost 12 billion dollars. That is, a billion annually. If we look at things purely practically, the Armenian economy for the European market is generally a drop in the ocean. It does not even make sense to compare these figures, which take up less than a percent. But for Europe, this is a purely political project to continue expansion into those places where Russia has good relations, to weaken Russian statehood, Russian alliance, including in the South Caucasus.

For Russia, Armenia is an integral part of culture, economy, and cooperation in general. If we look at the Western approach to the South Caucasus, it’s pragmatic—Trump sees no strategic interest in Georgia, nor in Armenia. Accordingly, all visits and contacts have been minimized. The same thing, by the way, applies to Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, Europe continues its political game with the current Armenian administration,” Semenovsky concluded.