Expert: Pashinyan’s Visit to Kazakhstan Could Have Quiet Strategic Goals Beyond Official Agenda

Why is Armenia’s prime minister really coming to Kazakhstan? Orda.kz asked political scientist Andranik Ovannisyan for his assessment.

Nikol Pashinyan arrives in Astana today at the invitation of President Toqayev. The visit is official. Aqorda stated briefly that the delegations will discuss prospects for strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation.

According to expert Andranik Ovannisyan, however, Pashinyan’s trip may go beyond this:

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s visit to Kazakhstan serves several interconnected purposes. On the one hand, it aims to strengthen bilateral political dialogue. Armenia views Kazakhstan as a stable and pragmatic partner capable of balancing interests in Central Asia and supporting constructive progress in the normalization process between Yerevan, Ankara, and Baku. On the other hand, the visit focuses on the economic agenda — developing joint projects in transport logistics, energy, high technology, and agriculture. An important component is cultural and humanitarian cooperation: educational and scientific initiatives, and exchanges between universities and tech start-ups,
 said Ovannisyan, a political scientist, and expert on regional security in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.

In addition to the official agenda, their talks may include a number of ‘off-the-record’ topics. These may involve Armenia’s food and energy security, as well as coordination on Eurasian transport and trade corridors. Informal discussions could also touch on cooperation in high technology — especially IT and the digital economy — given Armenia’s potential and its active ties with the United States. Consultations on regional security are also possible, including exchanges on the political situation in the South Caucasus and the process of normalizing Armenia’s relations with Türkiye and Azerbaijan,
 the expert noted.

Several months ago, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan also visited Astana.

President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev personally received him in Aqorda, telling Mirzoyan: “Kazakhstan feels sincere sympathy for the Armenian people and seeks to strengthen its partnership with Yerevan.”

Original Author: Zarina Fayzulina