Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared victory in the country’s parliamentary elections, marking a significant consolidation of his political power. The victory. According to official results. Came amid a backdrop of ongoing regional tensions and peace efforts with neighboring Azerbaijan, which Pashinyan addressed in a recent speech to the European Parliament.

Peace Process and Geopolitical Tensions

Pashinyan highlighted the historic peace agreement with Azerbaijan, formalized in August 2025 in Washington DC, as one of the most significant developments in the South Caucasus. The agreement. Signed by Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, ended decades of conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh and laid the groundwork for regional stability.

However, recent developments in the Syunik region have complicated the peace process. French President Emmanuel Macron. In a conversation with Pashinyan, emphasized the need for the immediate withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenian territory, according to an Elysee Palace statement; France, as noted by independent analyst Saro Saroyan, has provided Armenia with political tap into but has seen Yerevan hesitate to act on it.

Regional Alliances and Geopolitical Balancing

Saro Saroyan, an independent analyst speaking with ArmInfo, noted that France’s involvement reflects a broader Western strategy to stabilize the region and prevent further escalation. According to Saroyan, the geopolitical area has shifted significantly, with Russia’s rapprochement with Turkey playing a key role in the recent tensions. “Aliyev would not have dared to invade Syunik without Moscow’s consent,” he stated, adding that the operation was likely coordinated with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Macron’s call for the UN Security Council to address the issue signals France’s recognition of the gravity of the situation and the potential for a broader diplomatic resolution. Saroyan also suggested that the West is seeking legal and political justification for its interventions in the region, aiming to balance the influence of larger powers such as Russia and Turkey.

Domestic Rebuilding and International Engagement

During his address to the European Parliament, Pashinyan also emphasized the Armenian government’s efforts to resettle Armenians displaced during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and to secure the release of Armenian prisoners of war still held in Azerbaijan. “We are criticized for the fact that the peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan is not perfect,” Pashinyan said. “But I ask you: Where is peace perfect? Where has perfect peace ever existed, and when?”

In addition to domestic concerns, Pashinyan outlined Armenia’s intention to advance the TRIPP infrastructure program, a U.S.-brokered initiative aimed at establishing unimpeded transit connectivity across Armenian territory. This effort is intended to connect the main part of Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, further reinforcing the peace agreement’s economic and logistical components.