In this episode of Insights, host Eric Hacopian covers three key developments shaping Armenia’s regional and domestic landscape. He begins with the cancelled summit between Israeli and Turkish officials in Baku, examining the deeper strategic divide over the future of Syria, and how it could create opportunities for Armenia. Hacopian also argues why Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s decision to attend the May 9th Victory Day parade in Moscow despite calls from Europe for a boycott is a symbolic move that makes strategic sense for Armenia. Finally, he covers the expansion of additional Wizz Air flights from Europe to Armenia, calling it a welcome step forward while the government lacks a long-term tourism strategy.
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After Operation Sindoor, India Looks to Armenia
Dr. Abhinav Pandya, Founder and Director of the India-based Usanas Foundation, explores the rapid strengthening of strategic ties between India and Armenia following last month’s India–Pakistan conflict, Operation Sindoor. He explains how growing awareness within India’s government and public of Pakistan’s close alliance with Azerbaijan and Turkey has pushed India and Armenia closer together, not only in defense, but also in trade, tourism, and infrastructure. Dr. Pandya also examines the vital role of Iran and the challenges with establishing the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which could connect India to Armenia and onward to Europe.
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Mounting repercussions of unacknowledged gender gaps in Armenia
Though the consequences of gender gaps in the labour market and academia visibly shape social and economic tendencies, it’s a disparity that remains understudied in Armenia, leaving the general public underequipped to understand and react to this dynamic. Last week, the American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted a workshop with international scholars to facilitate an exchange of knowledge, experience, and research methods related to studying gender inequalities and evaluating policies. The initiative also aims to help push the study of gender economics to the forefront, given the lacking data-driven research of the topic in Armenia. “We really want to reinforce […]
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Team Group, Firebird, NVIDIA launch a $500 million AI project
By Alexander Pracht Firebird, a San Francisco and Yerevan-based AI cloud company, announced Wednesday a $500 million public-private partnership with the Armenian government, backed by U.S. tech giant NVIDIA, to build a major AI infrastructure hub in the country. The initiative aims to launch the first large-scale AI supercomputer in the South Caucasus by 2026, powered by thousands of NVIDIA Blackwell graphics processing units (GPUs) and scalable beyond 100 megawatts. “This is a major step toward strengthening our tech sector and global partnerships,” said Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, according to the Firebird press release. “The government is happy to […]
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How Armenia and the International Criminal Court empower each other
Dr. Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi, former President of the International Criminal Court and a leading voice in international criminal justice, explains why Armenia’s recent accession to the Rome Statute is a significant step both legally and symbolically. She explores what ICC membership means for smaller states like Armenia, how the court has evolved over the past two decades, and why international justice remains challenging in a politically fractured world. Dr. Fernández also outlines how Armenia can play an active role in strengthening the ICC and why cooperation among member states is crucial for the court’s effectiveness and survival.
