Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has once again surprised both his domestic audience and international observers with a striking shift in rhetoric. Speaking at the “Comprehensive Security and Resilience 2025” international conference, he asserted that military power should not be considered the principal instrument of national security. He further underlined the potential benefits of opening borders and communication lines, specifically acknowledging the transformative promise of the Zangazur Corridor—also referred to as the Trump International Peace and Prosperity Route (TRIPP).

On the surface, such remarks appear to be a welcome departure from Yerevan’s habitual militarism and obstructionism. For decades, Armenia’s leaders relied heavily on the doctrine of “security through force,” using the occupation of Azerbaijani lands as both a bargaining chip and a psychological crutch. Pashinyan himself was not immune to this mindset. Until very recently, his government channelled significant state resources into militarisation, acquiring heavy artillery systems and maintaining an inflated defence budget despite Armenia’s declining economy. Yet now, in 2025, he tells his people, also, the wider international community, that armies do not bring security.

The question is whether this volte-face signals a genuine recognition of geopolitical reality, or whether it is merely a tactical narrative designed to buy time and ease external pressure.

The context is important. Since the dramatic meetings in Abu Dhabi and Washington earlier this year, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been edging closer to a peace deal. With US President Donald Trump stepping in as mediator, alongside constructive involvement from other actors, Yerevan has shown an uncharacteristic willingness to accept Baku’s requirements. The signing of the Joint Declaration in Washington and the dissolution of the long-defunct Minsk Group were historic milestones, effectively burying the old conflict resolution format that Armenia had once used to stall genuine peace.

It is within this shifting diplomatic landscape that Pashinyan’s recent words must be situated. His acknowledgement of Azerbaijani........

© AzerNews