en English
Jul 2, 2026
Ali Karimli
With Armenia's recent elections likely to usher in an era of greater stability—and less Russian influence—in the South Caucasus, neighboring Azerbaijan is well-positioned to deepen cooperation with the US and Europe. But without appropriate conditions, new strategic partnerships with the West could fail to deliver for Azerbaijanis.
BAKU—Prior to his party’s victory in the June 2026 parliamentary election, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had already led Armenia for eight years. But in neither of the two previous elections (2018 and 2021) did he campaign on a foreign-policy platform as clear—or as infuriating to Russia—as he did this time around.
