By Dr. Pravesh Kumar Gupta
India and Armenia have centuries-old ties and are strategically vital to others in fashionable times. However, despite the convergence of interests, bilateral relations remain underdeveloped. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stopped in Armenia in October 2021, the first one stop through an Indian foreign minister since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992. To raise the point of bilateral cooperation, some spaces require immediate attention. Agriculture, prescription drugs and data generation are 3 spaces in which New Delhi and Yerevan can simply expand their partnership. Due to the lack of direct land connectivity between the two nations, the bilateral industry is below its potential.
Some notable projects have been introduced to deal with the disorders related to the low volumes of the industry. However, there has been a delay in the implementation of those measures, which has hampered the expansion of bilateral relations. Delhi and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are being negotiated recently. As Armenia is a member of the EAEU, the conclusion of this FTA would help to encourage the bilateral industry. In addition, India and Armenia are members of the International North Southern Transport Corridor (INSTC). However, closer cooperation between those two countries is needed to promote INSTC as a means of transport between the two countries. After the Ukrainian conflict, the changing geopolitical landscape presented an opportunity to revitalize INSTC. Russia is pressuring it, New Delhi and Yerevan also deserve to do so proactively. However, in order to give life to the bilateral cooperation spaces discussed above, it is a great need to maintain the coherence of bilateral engagement at the highest level.
The evolution of regional geopolitics in the South Caucasus has tested relations between India and Armenia. As Azerbaijan’s all-weather best friend, Turkey seeks to position itself as a regional leader and also needs to expand its success to the Central Asian region. . Azerbaijan serves as a launching pad for Turkey’s expansion into Central Asia. Countering the disruptive goals of Turkey and its close best friend, Pakistan, is a convergence of key interests between India and Armenia.
These regional geopolitical adjustments have also boosted India and Armenia into their relations. Cooperation in connectivity, security and defense has become a vital component of their bilateral relationship. Defense cooperation is a very vital domain with wonderful potential. The armed confrontation along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border led the country to sign a defense export agreement with India. Under a newly signed export agreement, New Delhi would send army weapons, such as missiles, rockets and ammunition, to Armenia.
In addition, for the first time, multi-gun rocket launchers, anti-tank rockets and indigenous Pinaka ammunition will be exported from India to Armenia. This contract is estimated at over 2000 crore rupees. In early May 2020, Delhi and Yerevan agreed to exchange 4 SWATHI weapons location radars, developed through the DRDO and capable of locating enemy assets such as mortars, shells and rockets at a distance of 50 km for $40 million. This comes as border tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to escalate frequently. The latter has strong diplomatic and military ties with Pakistan and Turkey. Turkey, Pakistan and Azerbaijan signed a trilateral ministerial agreement in 2017 to promote defense cooperation and bilateral military assistance agreements. Export agreement between India and Armenia is strategic.
Indian lawmakers intend to expand the north-south foreign shipping hall through Armenia to link the port of Chabahar in southeastern Iran and the Indian Ocean to Eurasia and Finland (INSTC). Once fully operational, Chabahar will be one of the most strategic and busiest ports in the region. The INSTC, which many see as a counterweight to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), was conceived in 2000 through India, Iran and Russia. It will also allow exporters from India and other Southeast Asian countries to succeed in Iran and other Central Asian countries, avoiding Pakistan and Afghanistan, where security considerations remain a major issue.
In conclusion, it would be correct to say that India and Armenia have common interests in a wide variety of fields and that there is great potential for security cooperation. And the defense agreement reached by the two countries could open the door to greater security cooperation. Armenia also provides a viable location for India’s expansion into the South Caucasus, where Turkey aspires to be the regional leader. In addition to trade, economy and connectivity, there is the possibility of a trilateral engagement between India, Armenia and Russia on security. sector. However, all this requires India’s active participation and Yerevan’s reciprocal approach.
He is a Senior Research Associate (Central Asia), Vivekananda International Foundation.
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