India regards Armenia as a key partner in the South Caucasus and is prioritizing its relationship with the country, researchers from the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) told international journalists — including Armenia’s NEWS.am, Armenpress, and CivilNet — during the Armenian media delegation’s visit to New Delhi.
India Prioritizing Ties With Armenia
India increasingly views Armenia as a key and trusted partner in the South Caucasus, experts from the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) said with certainty.
Dr. Aleksei Zakharov, a Fellow in the Strategic Studies Programme at ORF, explained that India is prioritizing its relationship with Armenia and strengthening political, economic, and defense ties.
“Over the past several years we can see India rising its presence across Eurasia - particularly, India has more interest in the South Caucasus. You must have noticed that India - Armenia relations have improved significantly, most visibly in defense.“India is prioritizing its relationship with Armenia in the region. There are now many discussions to improve connections between people through establishment more direct links between the two countries,” he said, adding that India is also interested in deepening its cooperation with Georgia.
Similarly, Rajoli Siddharth Jayaprakash, a Junior Fellow in Eurasian Studies at ORF, described Armenia as a strategic partner for India, emphasizing New Delhi’s confidence in the stability and reliability of the relationship.
“We certainly understand that Armenia is a strategic partner for India and that India and Armenia will not do anything against each other’s interests,” he noted.
Turkey–Azerbaijan–Pakistan Alignment Raises Security Concerns for India
Armenia becomes an even stronger partner for India against the backdrop of the growing military and political cooperation between Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan, Indian experts emphasize.
Referring to the trilateral cooperation between Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan, Ajay Bisaria, Strategic Advisor and Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), said that India engages with both Azerbaijan and Armenia as part of its Eurasia policy but holds serious security concerns about the emerging Turkish–Azerbaijani–Pakistani alignment.
“In the recent summer conflict between India and Pakistan, we saw a lot of use of Turkish drones, and we have had that conversation with Turkey. And, you know, that threatens the relationship in multiple ways.”
Dr. Aleksei Zakharov also underlined India’s concerns, noting that the trilateral cooperation presents clear strategic challenges for New Delhi.
Despite these concerns, Indian experts note that New Delhi continues to maintain economic ties with both Turkey and Azerbaijan. As Dr. Aleksei Zakharov explained, “there are some energy projects with Azerbaijan that are still there,” while “economic cooperation with Turkey is still quite strong.”
India Sees Armenia as Part of a Wider North–South Connectivity Vision
India sees Armenia as part of a broader connectivity framework linked to the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC), experts at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in New Delhi said.
“I think that India views Armenia as part of an extended framework of INSTC. The main railroad goes through Iranian territory and then through Azerbaijan. But since trade between Armenia and India has increased a lot, we can see that the countries have been exploring different connectivity routes that go directly without passing through Azerbaijani territory,” Dr. Aleksei Zakharov said.
Zakharov noted that as Armenia and Iran continue improving their connectivity, India will also benefit from these developments.
Zakharov believes that even outside the formal framework of INSTC, India is interested in improving connectivity with Armenia and working on practical routes that strengthen links between the two countries.
Armenia–Azerbaijan Developments Create Space for Cautious Optimism
Speaking about the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, experts at ORF noted that the current period of relative calm in the region creates opportunities for improved connectivity and cooperation.
Rajoli Siddharth Jayaprakash said that while relations between the two states, as well as between Armenia and Turkey, have shown some improvement, they “have not radically improved because naturally there is no strategic convergence of interests.”
He added that India welcomes any steps toward peace but continues to observe developments with caution.
Dr. Aleksei Zakharov also highlighted that if the geopolitical situation continues to stabilize, ongoing initiatives such as INSTC, the Middle Corridor, and other regional transport projects “can become complementary,” benefiting all states involved.
Indian experts emphasized that a more predictable environment between Armenia and Azerbaijan would support broader connectivity efforts in the region and allow India to strengthen its partnerships accordingly.
Gayane Aleksanyan, New Delhi
