How a tiny South Caucasus country is becoming India's strategic answer to Turkey-Pakistan ties
India has evacuated 110 students studying at Iran's Urmia Medical University through
Armenia
, as regional tensions in West Asia rise. The operation highlights New Delhi's growing logistical presence in the South Caucasus and its evolving partnership with Armenia, a country increasingly aligned with India on regional
security
concerns.
The development comes amid geopolitical shifts in the region. India's closer ties with Armenia are shaped by mutual interests in countering the influence of Turkey and Pakistan, both of which have backed Azerbaijan in recent regional conflicts.
India, Armenia and the Pakistan-Turkey equation
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had, in 2020, accused Pakistani special forces of aiding Azerbaijani troops. Indian officials have also stated that Pakistan used Turkish drones to target India during Operation Sindoor.
Turkey's opposition to India stems from its continued support for Pakistan's position on Kashmir. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has regularly raised Kashmir at international forums, including the United Nations. Ankara's increasing defence and diplomatic cooperation with Islamabad has added to the friction.
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India has viewed these developments as interference in its internal affairs. In response, India has chosen to deepen engagement with Armenia, not merely as a reaction to the trilateral bloc of Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Pakistan, but as part of a broader regional strategy.
India-Armenia cooperation based on long-term interests
Indian officials and analysts say that the ties with Armenia are driven by strategic, defence, and diplomatic considerations. While Azerbaijan and Turkey have echoed Pakistan's views on Kashmir, India's ties with Yerevan extend beyond short-term alignment.
India and Armenia have maintained stable diplomatic relations since 1991. Armenia has emerged as a growing customer of Indian defence systems, with ties being bolstered by shared historical links and positive diplomatic engagement.
India emerges as top defence supplier to Armenia
India has recently overtaken Russia as Armenia's largest defence supplier. This follows a shift caused by Russia's military engagement in Ukraine, which disrupted its arms
export
capacity. Armenia's dependence on Indian systems marks a key shift in the military balance in the region.
Major defence supplies from India to Armenia
India's
defence exports to Armenia
now include a wide range of advanced systems:
Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher Systems
: Four batteries delivered for long-range rapid fire operations.
ATAGS Howitzers
: 90 units of the long-range, precision artillery systems supplied.
Swathi Weapon Locating Radars
(4 units): For detecting and tracking incoming enemy fire.
Akash Surface-to-Air Missile Systems
(4 units): Medium-range air defence system used during Operation Sindoor.
Ashwin
Advanced Air Defence Interceptors (15 units): Acquired in 2023 for aerial threat interception.
TC-20
(MaRG 155mm) Self-Propelled Howitzers (72 units): Delivered by Kalyani Strategic Systems.
Spartan-S
thermal sights: From
Tonbo Imaging
, these aid night-time military operations.
Anti-drone systems developed by India's Zen Technologies have also reportedly been delivered, though the company has not confirmed the deal.
India fills vacuum left by Russia
India's entry as Armenia's principal arms supplier coincides with Russia's reduced ability to meet defence demands due to its focus on the war in Ukraine. This change has allowed India to step in and expand its footprint in the strategically located Caucasus region.
Experts view this shift as significant for India's ambitions to grow as a defence exporter while also asserting influence in regions bridging Europe and Asia.
A partnership with long-term impact
India's growing defence partnership with Armenia suggests a strategic realignment in the region. For India, it is an opportunity to emerge as a dependable defence supplier. For Armenia, it diversifies its defence sources and strengthens its military readiness.
The full details of recent defence deals have not been publicly disclosed. However, the regular exchanges and volume of recent arms transfers indicate a growing strategic partnership with wider implications for regional geopolitics.
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