The European Union’s decision to approve a new 20 million euro military assistance package for Armenia has raised concerns among regional experts, who warn the move could undermine peace efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
EU ambassadors have approved the funding under the European Peace Facility, with officials saying the assistance will be limited to non-lethal military equipment.
The allocation follows an earlier 10 million euro package approved in 2024, marking the first time the EU has provided military-related support to Armenia under the facility.
Speaking to AnewZ, Shiraz Mahmood Khan, a research scholar at the Western Caspian University, said the timing of the assistance is especially problematic given recent diplomatic progress between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“Well, the peace process, as we know that it took place last year in Washington in the presence of President Trump and both of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Khan said, adding that “the region came out of the conflict of decade, and at last the region was at peace.”
Khan argued that the EU’s decision risks upsetting that fragile balance, saying the funding appears to prioritise military considerations at a moment when confidence-building measures are crucial.
He warned that strengthening one side, even through non-lethal support, could undermine trust and create new security concerns for Azerbaijan.
The analyst also highlighted broader concerns about EU policy toward the region, noting that previous cooperation documents between Brussels and Yerevan had already raised questions in Baku.
Azerbaijan, Khan noted, has sought to move beyond decades of conflict and is now focused on economic development, trade and regional cooperation. He warned that funding only one party risks weakening an already fragile peace process.
“If you're funding one of the parties and not funding the other, it becomes fragile automatically,” Khan said.
He added that the EU’s credibility as a neutral and stabilising partner could be at stake if such an approach continues, stressing that lasting peace in the South Caucasus depends on balance and impartiality.
Thousands of residents blocked Austria’s Brenner motorway on Saturday (30 May), shutting down a major north-south transport route through the Alps i...
Iranian-made Yassin missiles were spotted mounted on Armenian Air Force fighter aircraft during Armenia's latest military parade on Thursday (28 May),...
The Philippines remains under a "severe threat" from China despite recent efforts by Washington and Beijing to ease tensions, Philippine Defence Secre...
Russia has recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations, citing Yerevan's growing rapprochement with the European Union. The move is seen as t...
At least 22 people have been killed - including children - and 35 others injured after a truck carrying Afghan returnees overturned in eastern Afghani...
European companies are continuing to deepen their presence in China, with nearly seven in ten firms maintaining or expanding their supply chains despite global efforts to diversify, according to a new survey by the EU Chamber of Commerce.
For decades, the European Union positioned itself as one of the world’s most vocal champions of open markets and rules-based trade. Brussels urged governments across the developing world to liberalise, limit industrial subsidies and respect the commitments of the World Trade Organization.
The new AnewZ documentary, TARGET: Yerevan, builds its explosive case on exclusive, secret recordings originally published by Minval Politika.
For the first time in decades, Armenia has rail access to the EU. The Akhalkalaki–Kars corridor, running through Georgia into Türkiye, is now officially open for Armenian cargo - a quiet but consequential shift in the region’s economic geography.
A group of Azerbaijani civil society organisations has called for increased scrutiny of Swiss building materials giant Holcim, citing court rulings and ongoing investigations linked to its subsidiary Lafarge's activities during the Syrian conflict.
Iranian-made Yassin missiles were spotted mounted on Armenian Air Force fighter aircraft during Armenia's latest military parade on Thursday (28 May), drawing attention from defence observers and regional analysts.
Thai rescuers say five people have been pulled alive from a flooded cave in remote Laos, where seven villagers became trapped after heavy rain cut off access underground.
The Philippines remains under a "severe threat" from China despite recent efforts by Washington and Beijing to ease tensions, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Saturday (30 May).
Iranian-made Yassin missiles were spotted mounted on Armenian Air Force fighter aircraft during Armenia's latest military parade on Thursday (28 May), drawing attention from defence observers and regional analysts.
Russia has recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations, citing Yerevan's growing rapprochement with the European Union. The move is seen as the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the longtime allies ahead of Armenia's parliamentary election on 7 June.
At least 22 people have been killed - including children - and 35 others injured after a truck carrying Afghan returnees overturned in eastern Afghanistan, local officials say.
A renewed wave of U.S. diplomatic activity in the South Caucasus highlights Washington’s growing focus on regional connectivity, trade and security, according to Associate Professor George Mchedlishvili of European University in Tbilisi.
Kyrgyzstan has signed a series of cooperation agreements with China and Belarus at the Fifth Forum of Regional Leaders of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states, underlining the country's growing economic engagement within the regional bloc.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment