Nearly 200 years ago, a profound geopolitical shift reshaped our region. The centuries-long Turkish–Persian hegemony gave way to a period of Russian–Turkish–Persian wars, bringing immense hardship to the Armenian people. Over those two centuries, our ancestors were drawn into virtually every conflict—serving in the armed forces of Russia, Turkey, or Persia. Moreover, Armenians living in Armenia were mobilized even for wars that bore no relation to their own national interests—be it the Greco–Turkish War, the Russo–Japanese War, or other distant conflicts. Only in two instances—between 1918–1920 and during the Karabakh wars—did Armenian soldiers fight directly for Armenia’s state interests. Yet every regional upheaval has inevitably proven devastating for us.
The year 2026 is exceptional in this regard. The Russian–Ukrainian war has entered its fifth year, and since February 28, war has also erupted in neighboring Iran. At the same time, the Republic of Armenia is experiencing one of the most peaceful periods in its modern history. There has been no mobilization; Armenian citizens are not participating in military operations; the state is developing under normal conditions. Moreover, current developments suggest that the opening of Armenia’s borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan may be approaching. Under these circumstances, Armenia could emerge as the safest and most reliable East–West transit hub in the region. The first signs of this are already visible: a significant portion of regional air transit now passes through Armenian airspace, generating several hundred thousand U.S. dollars in daily revenue for the state budget.
Such a unique opportunity has come at a high cost. The Armenian population of Artsakh has been subjected to ethnic cleansing. Armenia has faced hybrid attacks, and Armenian society continues to mourn the consequences of the 44-day war. Peace is never free of charge; after paying a heavy price, the time has come to reap its benefits.
Yet a number of political actors appear unable to accept Armenia’s remaining outside ongoing wars. Some call for openly aligning with one side or another; the more “courageous” even suggest personal participation in hostilities. This seemingly irrational behavior has a straightforward explanation.
For the first time, democracy in Armenia operates without qualifiers, meaning that the majority of society is able to influence state decision-making. This leaves little room for individuals pursuing narrow personal agendas or external interests to seize power or shape outcomes. What they require instead is chaos and uncertainty—a context in which they might attempt to exploit the situation. It was therefore no coincidence that some of them recently expressed approval of a Russian journalist’s call to conduct a “special military operation” in Armenia. Today, they may be waiting for rockets launched in Iran to reach Armenian territory. That expectation is misguided. As the wise Armenian people say, “Akhordzakid katsakh” (“May your appetite meet vinegar”)—in other words, they’ll be disappointed. Even so, the country continues to build a peaceful and secure state, free from opportunists and foreign agents.
Robert Gevondyan
