Joint Armenia-EU Declaration political roadmap for gradual  dismantling of Armenia`s infrastructural sovereignty

ArmInfo. The sections of the joint declaration adopted following the Armenia-EU summit concerning critical infrastructure are, at first glance, presented as an agenda  for development, modernization, and "connectivity." However, this  language conceals a more serious problem:  the gradual restructuring  of control over infrastructure. Vahe Davtyan, a doctor of political  science and professor, voiced this opinion on his Facebook page.

He noted that the energy sector emphasizes diversification, energy  transition, strengthening networks, and integration with European  markets. However, according to the expert, the issue is not so much  about energy development as the nature, or rather, whose logic, will  drive this development. "Diversification is presented as a reduction  in dependence, but in practice, it could simply result in its  transformation-in the direction of European regulatory and  technological systems," Davtyan noted. The political scientist  believes that nuclear energy remains the most sensitive issue. EU  support for developing a roadmap for decommissioning the Armenian  Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) is framed as technical and safety  cooperation. However, as Davtyan noted, the de facto outcome is  clear: the closure of the existing nuclear unit.

"The question arises: what will replace it? The declaration doesn't  provide a clear answer. This means that the basic, stable capacity of  Armenia's energy system is being called into question without  providing an equivalent alternative. It's enough to recall the  Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, which was mothballed after Lithuania  joined the EU without the creation of new capacity. As a result,  Lithuania is still forced to import expensive electricity from  Scandinavia," the political scientist noted.

According to him, the declaration mentions the prospect of connecting  Armenia to the Black Sea power cable. This is a joint initiative of  the EU and Azerbaijan aimed at exporting Azerbaijani "green" energy  to the European market. Davtyan noted that it's clear that without  stable generating capacity, Armenia will have virtually no role in  this system. And under current conditions, Baku will do everything  possible to prevent Armenia from joining this project, which is the  result of Azerbaijani lobbying.

A similar logic, he said, can be seen in the declaration's transport  section. This refers to integration into trans-European networks, the  opening of communications, and the "Crossroads of the World" project.   "However, here too, it's important to understand: Armenia is viewed  not so much as an independent entity formulating its own transport  policy, but rather as a transit corridor," the expert emphasized.

In this context, he believes, the EU's "Global Gateway" strategy,  which estimates investment in Armenia at up to ?2.5 billion, is  particularly significant. As Davtyan noted, this is presented as an  incentive for developing connectivity and infrastructure, but in  reality, it is directly linked to the formation of the Middle  Corridor and the restructuring of the Europe-Caucasus-Asia logistics  chains. "The TRIPP program, presented in the same spirit as an  initiative to develop regional connectivity, reveals yet another  layer. In fact, it strengthens the US role in the Middle Corridor,  securing control over Europe's connections with Asia. An obvious  contradiction arises: on the one hand, European integration is being  declared, while on the other, the corridor's architecture itself is  being shaped by US strategic interests aimed at establishing control  over Europe-Asia logistics links and their possible configurations,"  Davtyan explained.

The political scientist emphasized that, under these circumstances,  Armenia acts not as a co-author of these processes, but as a space  for their implementation, as an instrument in a logistics system  designed by external centers.

"Therefore, the Armenia-EU joint declaration is not so much about  development. It is a political roadmap for the gradual dismantling of  Armenia's infrastructural sovereignty," he concluded.