{"id":858091,"date":"2025-06-25T22:12:39","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T03:12:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/25\/new-trade-routes-drive-indias-eurasian-ambitions\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T22:12:39","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T03:12:39","slug":"new-trade-routes-drive-indias-eurasian-ambitions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/25\/new-trade-routes-drive-indias-eurasian-ambitions\/","title":{"rendered":"New Trade Routes Drive India&#8217;s Eurasian Ambitions"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pagecontent\">\n<div>\n<div id=\"singleArticle__sidebar\">\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/d32r1sh890xpii.cloudfront.net\/avatars\/medium\/1fd5867baeed20d5b1505e9ddcf7fcd0.jpg\" alt=\"Eurasianet \" title=\"Eurasianet \" previous-src=\"data:image\/png;base64,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\"><\/p>\n<p>Eurasianet <\/p>\n<p>Eurasianet is an independent news organization that covers news from and about the South Caucasus and Central Asia, providing on-the-ground reporting and critical perspectives on\u2026<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oilprice.com\/contributors\/Eurasianet\">More Info<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><h3>Premium Content<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t    <\/ul>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"singleArticle__content\" data-spons=\"0\" data-id=\"41011\">\n<p><span>By <a href=\"https:\/\/oilprice.com\/contributors\/Eurasianet\">Eurasianet <\/a> &#8211; May 24, 2025, 10:00 AM CDT<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"key_points\">\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span>India is significantly increasing its support for Armenia through major arms deals and by influencing tourist flows, which is altering the regional balance of power in the South Caucasus.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span>Russia is expressing concern over Armenia&#8217;s growing ties with non-regional players, including India, and the potential erosion of its own influence in the region.<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span>Azerbaijan cautions that the involvement of outside powers like India risks turning the South Caucasus into an arena for proxy conflicts and jeopardizing regional stability.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" ><source media=\"(min-width: 480px)\" ><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/d32r1sh890xpii.cloudfront.net\/article\/718x300\/2025-05-23_w5r4w62ehc.jpg\" alt=\"India\" title=\"India\" previous-src=\"https:\/\/d32r1sh890xpii.cloudfront.net\/article\/718x300\/2025-05-23_w5r4w62ehc.jpg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/picture>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t    <body><\/p>\n<p><span>India is boosting its support for Armenia, adding an additional factor to the already complicated security equation in the South Caucasus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Armenia over the past five years has concluded deals worth roughly $1.5 billion to procure Indian arms, including anti-aircraft missiles, artillery systems, combat drones and munitions, Russian media outlets <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vedomosti.ru\/politics\/articles\/2025\/05\/14\/1109918-indiya-zamenyaet-rossiyu-na-rinke-vooruzhenii-armenii\"><span>report<\/span><\/a><span>.\u00a0 Over the same period, arms sales to Armenia by Russia, Yerevan\u2019s erstwhile strategic ally, have largely dried up. France has cut an additional estimated $250 million-worth of arms deals with Yerevan, and geopolitically, Armenia has started to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/eurasianet.org\/armenia-formalizes-closer-ties-with-the-west\"><span>tilt towards<\/span><\/a><span> the United States and European Union.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>An <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/russiancouncil.ru\/papers\/RIAC-Russia-Armenia-PolicyBrief59.pdf\"><span>analysis<\/span><\/a><span> prepared by the Russian International Affairs Council underscored that Armenia\u2019s shifting alignment, both in terms of arms purchases and political engagement, is a source of concern in Moscow.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cSeveral years ago, it was possible to boldly assert that Armenia is not only a special sphere of interest for Russia in the South Caucasus, but the key point for projecting the Russian presence in the region,\u201d the report noted. \u201cToday, [Russia\u2019s] presence and influence are in doubt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cArmenia is striving for closer ties with non-regional players,\u201d the report added. \u201cThis, in turn, further narrows the room for maneuver that Russia can use to restore its position in the South Caucasus.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>There is a practical component to Armenia\u2019s recent arms purchases that increase the degree of difficulty for Russia. For example, the artillery systems that Armenia is obtaining fire 155-mm shells. Russian systems use 152-mm rounds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>India\u2019s backing for Armenia is not limited to arms sales these days. New Delhi is weaponizing the tourist industry by discouraging Indians from visiting Azerbaijan and Turkey, Armenia\u2019s arch-foes in the Caucasus. One popular Indian travel platform <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/business\/india-business\/india-pakistan-and-operation-sindoor-makemytrip-bookings-for-azerbaijan-turkey-down-60-cancellations-up-250-mmt-discontinued-all-promotions-offers-on-platform\/articleshow\/121165877.cms\"><span>reported<\/span><\/a><span> that in early May new bookings for travel to Azerbaijan and Turkey plummeted by 60 percent while cancellations of already-arranged travel more than doubled.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Indians accounted for a relatively small share of tourists who visited Azerbaijan in 2024 (8 percent), but the number of Indian tourists (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ndtv.com\/india-news\/why-many-indian-tourists-are-cancelling-trips-to-turkey-azerbaijan-india-pakistan-news-8413101\"><span>224,000<\/span><\/a><span>) more than doubled last year compared to 2023\u2019s total.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Many regional analysts see India\u2019s growing interest in Armenia as an outgrowth of its long-standing rivalry with Pakistan. New Delhi, some believe, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/week-asia\/politics\/article\/3311090\/why-india-boosting-arms-sales-armenia-amid-pakistan-turkey-tensions\"><span>wants to disrupt<\/span><\/a><span> a strengthening trilateral bond among Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Turkey, and views its alignment with Armenia as a counterbalance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>But India also sees Armenia as a key cog in its efforts to develop trade routes operating outside of the emerging, Chinese-financed Belt &#038; Road network. India\u2019s budding economic rivalry with China is viewed as a secondary driver of New Delhi\u2019s efforts to raise its profile in the South Caucasus.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cBy deepening relations with Armenia, India strengthens its position as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.civilnet.am\/en\/news\/768808\/time-to-transform-armenia-india-cooperation-into-a-strategic-partnership\/\"><span>a major player across Eurasia<\/span><\/a><span> and emphasizes the importance of the International North-South Transport Corridor, which aims to connect India with Europe through Armenia and Iran,\u201d stated an analysis published by the Atlantic Council in early 2025.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Russia is not the only regional player upset by India\u2019s entry into the geopolitical <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ufc.com\/octagon\"><span>octagon<\/span><\/a><span> that is the South Caucasus. A May 19 commentary published by the government-affiliated AzerMedia website in Baku cautioned that the Caucasus is at risk of becoming an \u201carena\u201d for proxy fights waged by outside powers. Such concerns have been heightened by the recent <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cvgvr4r5d2qo\"><span>four-day fight<\/span><\/a><span> between India and Pakistan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cThe involvement of non-regional actors in the South Caucasus risks fragmenting the region\u2019s security architecture,\u201d the commentary stated. \u201cThe key question for regional states is whether to assert their sovereignty by balancing great powers or become instruments in their global conflicts. The choice is also between development through trade and logistics \u2013 or militarization.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cAs tensions rise between India and Pakistan, India\u2019s military expansion into the South Caucasus raises the risk of war,\u201d it added.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>By <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/eurasianet.org\"><span>Eurasianet.org<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>More Top Reads From Oilprice.com<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/oilprice.com\/Geopolitics\/International\/G7-Finance-Ministers-Consider-Stepped-Up-Sanctions-Against-Russia.html\">G7 Finance Ministers Consider Stepped-Up Sanctions Against Russia<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/oilprice.com\/Metals\/Commodities\/Rare-Earths-Supply-Chain-Strains-Persist-Despite-Trade-Truce.html\">Rare Earths Supply Chain Strains Persist Despite Trade Truce<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/oilprice.com\/Energy\/Energy-General\/Lithium-Iron-Phosphate-Batteries-Drive-Market-Boom.html\">Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries Drive Market Boom<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/body>\t\t\t\t\t\t    <\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<h5>Download The Free Oilprice App Today<\/h5>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/in\/app\/oilprice\/id1389772617?mt=8\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Download Oilprice.com on Apple\" width=\"169\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/d1o9e4un86hhpc.cloudfront.net\/a\/img\/cl\/app\/appstoredownload.svg\"><\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=oilprice.android.app\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Download Oilprice.com on Android\" width=\"169\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/d1o9e4un86hhpc.cloudfront.net\/a\/img\/cl\/app\/androidbutton.png\" previous-src=\"https:\/\/d1o9e4un86hhpc.cloudfront.net\/a\/img\/cl\/app\/androidbutton.png\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oilprice.com\/\">Back to homepage<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/d32r1sh890xpii.cloudfront.net\/avatars\/medium\/1fd5867baeed20d5b1505e9ddcf7fcd0.jpg\" alt=\"Eurasianet \" title=\"Eurasianet \"><\/p>\n<div>\n<h3>Eurasianet <\/h3>\n<p>\n\t            Eurasianet is an independent news organization that covers news from and about the South Caucasus and Central Asia, providing on-the-ground reporting and critical perspectives on\u2026\t          <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oilprice.com\/contributors\/Eurasianet\">More Info<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<h3>Related posts<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/oilprice.com\/#\" id=\"join-discussion\">Leave a comment<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/oilprice.com\/Geopolitics\/International\/New-Trade-Routes-Drive-Indias-Eurasian-Ambitions.html\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eurasianet Eurasianet is an independent news organization that covers news from and about the South Caucasus and Central Asia, providing on-the-ground reporting and critical perspectives on\u2026 More Info Premium Content By Eurasianet &#8211; May 24, 2025, 10:00 AM CDT India is significantly increasing its support for Armenia through major arms deals and by influencing tourist<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":858092,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26199,425],"tags":[115760,6277],"class_list":{"0":"post-858091","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-routes","8":"category-trade","9":"tag-routes","10":"tag-trade"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858091","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=858091"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858091\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/858092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=858091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=858091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=858091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}