Opinion: It is important for India to have a presence in Armenia to  counter Turkey, Azerbaijan and Pakistan

ArmInfo. It is important for India to have a presence in Armenia for a kind of counteraction to the developing relations between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Pakistan.   A similar opinion is expressed in the analytical publication  published on the Rybar telegram channel regarding the  military-technical cooperation between Armenia and India.

The publication draws attention to the fact that in early December  several secret meetings were held in Armenia between the Indian  delegation and the Armenian authorities.

"The main topic of the talks was military-technical cooperation  between the countries: joint exercises, mutual training of military  personnel, as well as the supply and joint production of weapons.

At the meetings, the agreements concluded earlier in October during  the visit of Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan to New Delhi  were consolidated," the source notes, recalling that at that time the  Armenian leadership purchased the Indian multi-barrel Pinaka  launchers, Konkurs-M, anti- tank guided missiles and 80-mm mortars.  According to the source, In addition, the issue of the purchase of  Indian Akash air defence systems and Indian-made kamikaze drones are  at the final stage. 

It is noted that the initiator of the rapprochement between the two  countries was the former Indian Ambassador to Yerevan, Yogeshwar  Sangvan, who established good contacts with the local government  during his work in Armenia.

At the same time, it is stated that the cooperation between India and  Armenia has deepened significantly in recent years within the  framework of the implementation of interstate economic projects and  the general geopolitical situation.

"Firstly, it is important for India to have a presence in Armenia for  a kind of counteraction to the developing relations between Turkey,  Azerbaijan and Pakistan.

The Turks actively finance and invest in the Pakistani economy. And  in the Kashmir issue, both Turkey and Azerbaijan have always  supported Pakistan. At the same time, the authorities in Islamabad  are on the side of the Azerbaijanis in disagreements over  Nagorno-Karabakh.

The provision of assistance to Armenia and the preservation of its  statehood will allow, to some extent, to balance forces in the South  Caucasus, especially against the backdrop of Russia's diversion  towards Ukrainian developments," the analyst says.

Secondly, according to the author of the publication, the Indian  authorities, together with the Iranian authorities, are interested in  establishing an international transport corridor (ITC)- "Persian Gulf  - Black Sea", which will connect India and Iran with Europe through  Armenia.

On October 21, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian,  after a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan,  announced the establishment of a "Iran-Armenia-India" trilateral  platform for the implementation of the corridor.

Current trade routes to Europe go either through the Suez Canal or  through countries with which India has complex relationships,  including China, Pakistan and unstable Afghanistan.

In this vein, it is emphasized that the ITC through Iran, Armenia and  Georgia will reduce the time of delivery of goods to Europe and  dependence on the Chinese "Silk Road", weaken the influence of the  Turks and neutralize the threat posed by the possible laying of the  so-called Zangezur corridor.

"The Indian authorities are increasing their presence in the  Transcaucasus. For Armenia, cooperation with the official New Delhi  will solve the important issue of rearming the armed forces and will  give rise to the prospect of establishing a profitable economic  corridor.

In the context of growing tension in the region and the desire of the  Turks and Azerbaijanis to quickly resolve the issue with Artsakh to  form a land corridor from China to Europe through Azerbaijan and  Turkey, the unification of India and Iran looks like the most logical  and mutually beneficial option to counter Turkic influence," the  author of the publication summed up