Asger Risom
Russia loses a key arms client as former ally reorients its defense alliances.
In the shifting landscape of global defense partnerships, some long-standing alliances are starting to fracture. One of the most striking recent examples comes from the Caucasus region.
Armenia Ends Its Reliance on Russian Arms
Armenia, historically one of Russia’s most loyal arms clients, has almost completely removed Moscow from its defense procurement plans. According to tech.wp.pl, Russia’s share of Armenia’s arms imports has plummeted from 94% (2011–2020) to just 10% by 2024.
The war in Ukraine is seen as a direct cause of this change, with delays and disruptions in Russian arms supplies prompting Armenia to seek alternatives.
The Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) noted in a recent report that Armenia last signed a major contract with Russia in 2021, worth $400 million, which remains partially unfulfilled.
New Alliances With India and France
Instead, Armenia has pivoted strongly toward India and France. Between 2022 and 2023, Yerevan signed defense deals worth over $1.5 billion with India, including Pinaka rocket systems, ATAGS artillery, Akash air defense systems, anti-drone technologies, and various munitions.
Additionally, France has emerged as a major partner. Contracts with Paris between 2023 and 2024 totaled approximately $250 million, involving radars, Mistral short-range air defense systems, and the highly regarded Caesar 155 mm self-propelled artillery—praised by Ukrainian forces for its battlefield effectiveness.
The Strategic Realignment
Analysts say the drastic drop in Russian military sales to Armenia is unlikely to reverse soon. Armenia’s new strategic partnership agreement with the United States, signed in January 2025, only deepens the shift.
As Armen Grigoryan of Armenia’s Security Council stated, the move reflects both logistical necessity and a broader reassessment of Armenia’s geopolitical posture. With the continuing war in Ukraine disrupting Russian export capacity, Armenia’s defense diversification could mark the beginning of a wider regional trend.
