Canadian Prime Minister Carney Visits Armenia Amid Calls for Stronger Ties

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Yerevan, Armenia, for a visit lasting about 20 hours. He is scheduled to meet with Armenia's political leadership shortly after landing at Zvartnots International Airport. The majority of his agenda centers on the European Political Community summit, where Canada is invited as a guest of honor.

The summit brings together European Union members and neighboring countries. It was first held months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to attend this gathering.

A statement from Carney's office indicated he will meet European leaders to reinforce collective security, transatlantic defense readiness, and support for Ukraine. The statement emphasized Canada-EU ties, quoting Carney as saying Canada is moving closer to European partners and allies, advancing cooperation in defense, energy, and technology.

Canada has recently opened an embassy in Yerevan in 2023 and joined the European Union Mission in Armenia, a civilian monitoring mission on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border established after the 2020 war over Nagorno-Karabakh.

International law professor Christopher Waters from the University of Windsor stated that Armenia's location makes it of interest to Canada. He suggested increasing student exchanges and economic relations, noting the region is looking toward the West and away from Russian influence.

Armenia's westward orientation accelerated after the 2020 war, where it blamed Russia for not providing aid. Nagorno-Karabakh returned to Azerbaijan's control in 2023, leading to the displacement of about 120,000 ethnic Armenians. Waters recommended Canada act as an honest broker, pressuring Azerbaijan on humanitarian issues like the release of political prisoners and protection of cultural heritage, while avoiding intervention in border disputes.

Defence experts suggested Canada could enhance military ties with Armenia. Professor emeritus Alan Whitehorn from the Royal Military College in Kingston proposed collaboration with Armenian military academies for modernization, citing Canada's respected military education system.

Armenia participates in NATO's Defence Education Enhancement Programme for non-member countries. Whitehorn noted Canada already engages through this program but could pursue direct bilateral relations. Robert Huebert from the University of Calgary described the summit hosting as a sign of Armenia's drift from Russia, serving as a message about Western interests in the region.