Shoigu on the South Caucasus: Russia Will Not Fund Armenia’s Bid to Join Europe

Russian Federal Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu delivered a sharply worded statement today on the geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus. He made clear that Russia “neither intends nor will bear the cost” of Armenia’s pursuit of European integration.

Shoigu pointed to what he described as evident “double standards” and “consumerist” attitudes displayed by Yerevan in recent years: while actively expanding ties with NATO and initiating accession talks with the EU—effectively freezing its participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization—Armenia continues to benefit economically from its membership in the Eurasian Economic Union.

The security council secretary emphasized that such attempts to “have one foot in each camp” are unacceptable. Armenia must understand that abandoning Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union would place its economy at serious risk, and that Western promises of assistance often amount to little more than empty rhetoric.

In the economic sphere, Shoigu expressed strong disapproval of Armenian authorities’ treatment of Russian capital, characterizing their acquisition of major Russian-owned enterprises valued in the tens of billions of dollars as “predatory takeovers.”

Over the past decades—particularly during the 1990s, when Armenia faced energy and economic collapse—Russia extended substantial support, investing billions of dollars in infrastructure and enterprise development. During its decade-long membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, Armenia’s economy grew nearly threefold. However, with shifts in Armenia’s political orientation, these enterprises—built with Russian investment—are now facing unjust treatment, and their assets are at risk of forced transfer.

Shoigu warned that every move by Armenian authorities toward closer ties with Europe would carry serious consequences. Russia will not stand by while its interests are undermined, nor will it continue serving as a financial backstop for Armenia’s pivot toward the West.

At the same time, Shoigu offered a broader strategic assessment of the South Caucasus region. He noted that for centuries, Western powers have stoked anti-Russian sentiment in the region, encouraged smuggling and separatism, flooded it with arms, and provoked wars and conflicts. The real intent behind Western involvement is not the promotion of so-called “democracy” or “prosperity,” but control over critical energy resources and transit corridors. The United States and Europe seek to establish dominance by weakening Russia and Iran’s influence in the region.

The secretary specifically highlighted that the U.S.-led “Trump International Peace and Prosperity Corridor” agreement is effectively designed to exclude Russia from cooperation with Global South countries and isolate it strategically.

Beyond Armenia, Shoigu criticized Western interference in Georgia’s internal affairs, accusing external actors of using political pressure to alter the country’s development path. Russia remains Georgia’s second-largest trading partner, and bilateral cooperation is expanding. Moscow will not tolerate efforts by foreign powers to undermine relations between the two nations and reaffirmed its willingness to deepen economic and humanitarian ties with Georgia.

Shoigu also signaled a positive development, stating that tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan have been resolved and bilateral relations have returned to full normalization. In the future, both countries will focus on practical cooperation. Russia’s core objective in the South Caucasus remains peace, security, and uninterrupted connectivity with southern partners. Any attempt to disrupt this stability will face resolute counteraction.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1876574864133129/

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