politics
European Leaders Hold Summits in Armenia
Dozens of European leaders gathered in Yerevan for a summit amid Armenia's shift toward Europe. Brazil's EU ambassador emphasized the need for inclusive efforts to rebuild the international order. Canada's Prime Minister attended, signaling broader alliances.
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French President Emmanuel Macron stated during a visit to Yerevan on May 4, 2026, that Armenia has chosen the path toward Europe, marking a shift away from Russia's political orbit. Macron told members of Armenia's French community in the capital that for decades, people had become accustomed to Armenia being a satellite of Russia.
He added that Armenia has made the choice to break free from this constraint and turn towards Europe.
Dozens of European leaders, including Macron, were in Yerevan this week for the European Political Community summit and a joint Armenian-EU summit. Armenia's President Vahagn Khachaturyan, Macron, and Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan toasted during a state dinner at the presidential palace in Yerevan on May 4, 2026.
The summit, founded in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine, highlights Armenia's growing independence from Moscow, as Yerevan seeks closer EU ties following a 2023 attack by Azerbaijan that Russia did nothing to stop.
Armenia has been building ties with Europe for years, driven by frustration over Moscow's perceived failure to protect it during conflicts with Azerbaijan. Macron said France provided material support for Armenia during those conflicts. He noted that Russia was not there, any more than it is there for Venezuela when there are problems.
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney attended the European Political Community summit in Armenia, becoming the first non-European leader to do so. On Monday, Carney said he believed the international order will be rebuilt out of Europe. U.S.
Leadership of the free world was coming to an end. U.S. President Donald Trump. Carney suggested Europe should lead efforts to restore the multilateral system.
The summit's location in Armenia underscores its involvement as a sign of growing independence from Moscow. Brazil’s EU Ambassador Pedro Miguel da Costa e Silva told Euronews that the international order cannot be rebuilt by Europe alone. He argued that all countries will have to participate in an increasingly multipolar world.
