India Arms Armenia: Strategic Strike on Pakistan-Turkey Alliance

Source: https://universalinstitutions.com/india-arms-armenia-strategic-strike-on-pakistan-turkey-alliance/

Question 1

India’s defense partnership with Armenia represents a shift in its Eurasian strategy. Analyze the geopolitical implications of this move in the context of India’s relations with Pakistan, Turkey, and the emerging Eurasian power dynamics.
(Answer in 250 words)

India’s deepening defense engagement with Armenia marks a strategic recalibration of its Eurasian policy. Traditionally focused on South Asia and the Indo-Pacific, India is now asserting its presence in the geopolitically sensitive South Caucasus region—an area marked by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

By supplying Armenia with Pinaka rocket systems, Swathi radars, and artillery systems, India is not only expanding its defense exports but also signaling its willingness to challenge the Pakistan-Turkey-Azerbaijan axis. Both Turkey and Pakistan have openly supported Azerbaijan, and Pakistan refuses to recognize Armenia diplomatically. India’s alignment with Armenia thus serves as a strategic counterweight to these adversarial powers.

Furthermore, the move carries implications for Eurasian trade and energy corridors. Azerbaijan plays a key role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India’s support for Armenia could facilitate alternative trade routes bypassing China and Pakistan, enhancing India’s economic and strategic autonomy in the region.

This arms partnership also reflects India’s rising stature as a defense exporter and a net security provider, particularly for countries with limited Western support. It represents a shift toward using military diplomacy alongside traditional economic and cultural tools to build influence.

In essence, India’s defense outreach to Armenia is not an isolated export transaction but a calibrated geopolitical maneuver to counter regional hostilities and assert India’s strategic intent in the evolving Eurasian balance of power.

Question 2 

Defense exports have become a tool of India’s strategic diplomacy.” Critically examine this statement in light of India’s recent arms deals with Armenia and other nations.
(Answer in 250 words)

Defense exports are increasingly emerging as a vital instrument of India’s strategic diplomacy. By integrating defense cooperation into foreign policy, India is expanding its global footprint and shaping regional security dynamics.

A recent example is India’s arms supply to Armenia, which includes multi-barrel rocket systems and radars. This deal is more than a commercial transaction; it sends a geopolitical signal to adversaries like Pakistan and Turkey, who back Armenia’s rival, Azerbaijan. Similarly, India’s export of the BrahMos missile system to the Philippines marks a significant step in building partnerships in the Indo-Pacific against the backdrop of China’s assertiveness.

These exports strengthen bilateral ties, enhance India’s strategic leverage, and diversify its influence beyond South Asia. They also support the Make in India initiative, promoting indigenous defense manufacturing and reducing reliance on imports.

However, this shift must be approached cautiously. Supplying arms to conflict zones risks entangling India in regional disputes or fueling arms races. Moreover, India’s non-aligned identity and traditional peace posture must be balanced with its emerging role as a defense partner.

Nevertheless, as India aspires to become a global power, defense exports offer a pathway to establish strategic depth, forge lasting alliances, and reshape regional security architectures. When guided by ethical considerations and long-term geopolitical vision, defense diplomacy can complement India’s soft power and strategic autonomy.