"We will achieve significant revenue growth": Pashinyan claims Armenia's economy could leap to tens or even hundreds of billions of dollars despite losing Russian preferential policies

Prime Minister Pashinyan responded to Russia's warning that Yerevan's move toward joining the EU might trigger economic consequences. He argued that Armenia need not worry about losing energy tariff benefits provided by Russia, as the country is poised for an economic breakthrough and substantial revenue increase.

Pashinyan stated, "Threatening Armenia with price hikes makes no sense. We have already prepared for this: future state revenues will grow significantly, making such expenditures negligible."

This optimistic economic outlook is based on the "Crossroads of the World" development vision. Pashinyan aims to transform Armenia into a transit, technology, and logistics hub between Europe and Asia, claiming this initiative could elevate the country’s economy from its current scale to tens of billions—or even hundreds of billions of dollars.

Previously, the Kremlin had made clear to Yerevan the real costs associated with its geopolitical maneuvers, emphasizing that Russia’s long-standing preferential treatment in natural gas, refined oil, and diamonds was not guaranteed. Should Armenia pursue EU membership, Moscow would reassess these policies.

What actual losses would Armenia face? According to Russian estimates, exiting the Eurasian Economic Union would reduce the country’s total trade volume by 38.5%.

Armenia's proactive alignment with the EU comes at the risk of losing long-term energy and trade preferences from Russia. The government hopes to leverage its geographic position to establish a Eurasian logistics hub and stimulate economic growth. However, data indicates that leaving the Eurasian Economic Union would directly undermine the fundamentals of its foreign trade, resulting in considerable uncertainty about the future.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866393574671488/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author