Armenia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU): Why did Armenia join?

Abstract

The aim of economic integration is to ensure the establishment of commercial policies aiming to eliminate trade barriers and restrictions between member countries. The reasons for integration could be varied ranging from economic gains to establishment of security and political stability. Whereas, as dependency theory applies countries being one-sidedly dependent on hegemonic powers are enforced to choose the path of integration. Despite four-year active negotiations with the European Union in the context of Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement and efforts to adopt appropriate reforms, Armenian authorities decided to join the Russian-led Customs Union. The aim of this study is to analyze the reasons of Armenian strategic U-turn in 2013 and find out if Russia had any leverage towards Armenia. For the purpose of applying ‘dependency theory’ to Armenian reality and showing the scope of Armenian dependence on Russia, triangulation of the main issues including economic relations and trade, energy supply as well as military supply between Russia and Armenia, have been chosen and examined.