The past five years have been nothing short of transformative for Armenia and Armenians worldwide. The year 2020, remembered globally for the COVID-19 pandemic and a highly contentious U.S. presidential election, was also a devastating turning point for Armenia. That year, Azerbaijan launched a full-scale war against the civilian population of Artsakh, shattering a long-held perception among Armenians that war was a relic of the past. Despite our tragic history, we had moved beyond conflict, focusing instead on economic development, technological innovation, and positioning Armenia as a key player in the international market, particularly in Europe. However, all of that progress came to a halt.
A Political Shift with Lasting Consequences
To understand how we got here, we must look back to 2018, when Armenia experienced a government overthrow celebrated by many as a democratic revolution. At the time, there was a sense of hope, a belief that Armenia was finally stepping onto the global stage with a modernized political system. However, five years later, many Armenians now realize that what was initially seen as a victory for democracy may have been a carefully orchestrated operation fueled by decades-long propaganda, much of it supported by Western intelligence agencies. The goal? To drive a wedge between Armenia and Russia, securing leverage over the Armenian government while gaining a strategic foothold to monitor neighboring Iran.
The so-called alliances and partnerships that Armenia was promised in the years following this shift proved to be illusions. Words like “democracy,” “ally,” and “partnership” lost their meaning in a world where national interests shift with the political winds. When 150,000 Armenians in Artsakh were starved, frozen, and eventually ethnically cleansed, the so-called international community—humanitarian organizations, global institutions, and Western allies—turned a blind eye. Their silence was not an accident; it was a calculated decision influenced by economic and geopolitical interests, particularly the oil and gas wealth of Azerbaijan.
A Harsh Reality Check
Today, Armenians are left grappling with a harsh truth: no external power, whether Western or Eastern, prioritizes Armenian interests. Over the past five years, many have found themselves trapped in a cycle of political division—pro-West, anti-West, pro-Russia, anti-Russia—while failing to see the bigger picture. The reality is that neither side truly cares for Armenia. The only ones who do are Armenians themselves.
Our enemies understand this far better than we do. When they look at us, they do not see political factions, ideological camps, or regional affiliations. They see one people. They see Armenians. Yet, while they see unity in us, we see division in ourselves.
Moving Forward: A Call for Unity
Armenians today face a crossroads. It is easy to fall into despair, to feel the weight of defeat. But perhaps this moment of hardship is necessary. Perhaps it serves as a wake-up call—a reminder that our survival depends not on the empty promises of foreign governments but on our own resilience, unity, and self-reliance.
Instead of looking outward for salvation, we must look inward. We must educate ourselves on the shifting dynamics of the global order, the political and economic state of Armenia, and the forces at play within our own government. We must recognize that when the next crisis arrives, our political leanings will not protect us. The enemy at our borders does not care whether we are pro-West or pro-Russia. They see us as one people.
It is time we start seeing ourselves the same way.
