Armenia’s Foreign Policy Options Within China’s Belt and Road Initiative: A Small State Perspective

Within the intricate tapestry of global geopolitics, small states occupy a distinctive and nuanced position, encountering a myriad of unique challenges and opportunities. This article critically explores Armenia’s complex engagement with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) through the lens of small state theory, accentuating the geopolitical consequences arising from potential border openings following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War. Integrating small-state theory, the analysis fills a scholarly gap, providing nuanced insights into how Armenia’s foreign policy influences its BRI integration. Despite a decade since the launch of the Initiative, Armenia is not included in any BRI corridors and struggles to attract significant Chinese infrastructure investments compared to its neighbouring countries. The article concludes that Armenia’s cautious approach, prioritising security over immediate economic gains, exemplifies the delicate equilibrium small states navigate in the pursuit of global initiatives. In other words, Armenia, as a small state, seeks to align its interests with China’s mega-initiative while grappling with limitations on its participation.