Kocharyan Warns: Without Russia and Iran, Armenia Faces Isolation and Greater Danger

In a world full of shifting power and increasing uncertainty, former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan is raising the alarm: Armenia, he says, must rebuild its alliance with Russia and deepen ties with Iran—or risk being left unprotected in a dangerous region.

In a recent interview, Kocharyan offered a serious assessment of Armenia’s current situation. He described a country surrounded by threats and slowly losing its voice on the global stage. His message was simple, yet urgent: “We need to restore our strategic partnership with Russia, involve Iran, and protect our national identity before it’s too late.”

Kocharyan explained that the world is no longer led by just one superpower. “We are moving from a unipolar world to a multipolar one,” he said, meaning that countries like China, Russia, and even regional powers such as Turkey are rising. But this shift is not peaceful—it’s full of instability and conflict, especially for small nations like Armenia.

In this climate, he warned, the threats to Armenia are growing fast. He pointed to Turkey’s pan-Turkic ambitions as a direct danger, emphasizing plans by Turkey to unite Turkic-speaking nations and even create a shared military force. “Is this a threat or not [for Armenia]? Of course, it is a threat,” he said.

Turkey’s strategy, according to Kocharyan, does not include Armenia. In fact, he described Armenia as a “foreign body” in the political map that Turkey is drawing. “Their objective is obvious. We are not part of the future Turkey envisions.”

Kocharyan argued that only one country has the power to check Turkey’s ambitions in the region: Russia. “Name me another country that can stop Turkey,” he challenged the journalists interviewing him. “I am not against any other country stepping in, but who else can do it?”

He emphasized that Russia, despite current political tensions, remains the strongest power in the region—militarily, economically, and historically. “Geography does not change,” he said. “We are here, and Turkey is there. We must think long-term.”

He also advocated for involving Iran more closely. Not just because Iran is a neighbor, he said, but because it shares common interests with Armenia. “Iran is a friend. Let’s build a triangle—Armenia, Russia, Iran. That’s how we can balance regional threats.”

Kocharyan was deeply critical of the current Armenian leadership, especially Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. He accused Pashinyan of giving up on key parts of Armenia’s identity—such as the Armenian Genocide and Mount Ararat—under the false belief that doing so would make Armenia safer.

“Mount Ararat is not something we want to take by force,” Kocharyan explained. “It is a national symbol. But symbols matter. When you give them up, you lose part of who you are.” He warned that this erosion of identity does not bring peace—it only weakens the nation from within.

In contrast, he said the recognition of the Armenian Genocide has always been a form of defense. “A nation that has survived genocide has a sharper awareness of danger,” he said. “It strengthens our sense of security.”

Kocharyan dismissed the idea that Western countries—especially the United States or European Union—would offer real protection to Armenia. “Macron might make a nice speech, maybe even hug our prime minister, but then what?” he asked. “That’s where it ends.”

He argued that the West’s true goal in the region is not to support Armenia but to weaken Russia. “Europe doesn’t respond to us,” he said bluntly. “Their only strategy is to harm Russia. And we are being used as a tool.”

For Kocharyan, the contrast is clear: Russia and Iran have been consistent actors in the region for centuries. The West, on the other hand, may offer moral support, but no real help on the ground.

One of the most painful points for Armenians in recent years was the lack of support from the Russian-led CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) during the Azerbaijani attacks. Kocharyan acknowledged that frustration—but said the real failure was not with the CSTO, but with the breakdown in direct Armenia-Russia ties.

“When you ruin your relationship with the backbone country of the CSTO—Russia—why should it help you?” he asked. “If you don’t fight for your own land, no one else will.”

He compared the situation to NATO, where Estonia would never turn to Latvia or Finland for help—it goes straight to the U.S. “For us, Russia should have been that partner,” he said. “But the current Armenian government damaged that trust.”

Kocharyan’s conclusion was clear: Armenia cannot afford to go it alone, nor can it count on vague promises from the West. “We don’t have many alternatives,” he said. “This is not the time for experiments.”

He called for a return to a complementary foreign policy—one that balances relations but remains grounded in reality. “Europe will not solve our security problems. And the more we pull away from Russia, the more isolated we become.”

His final message was a warning to the Armenian people and leadership: stop dreaming about foreign saviors. Instead, rebuild strategic partnerships that actually work—starting with Russia and Iran—and restore the national identity that gives Armenia its strength.