Armenia with Iran, Russia, and Turkey: Life in a Tough Neighborhood Gives US a Strategic Advantage

Armenia is caught between Iran, Russia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan and may be one of the most important geopolitical battlegrounds you are not watching. 👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast at https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ to get a daily intel brief on Russia, China, Iran, Economics/Sanctions, Espionage, and more In this episode, Ryan Fugit and Glenn Corn are joined by Sarkis Karabashian to break down one of the most complex and underreported regions in global geopolitics. Armenia sits at the crossroads of major powers, bordering Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, with deep historical and strategic ties to Russia. As the war with Iran unfolds and Russia remains tied down in Ukraine, Armenia is navigating one of the most fragile strategic environments in the world. In this episode, we cover: • Why Armenia exists in one of the most difficult geopolitical neighborhoods on earth • How Armenia moved from Russian dominance to a multi partner security strategy • The impact of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war and what it revealed • Why Russia failed to protect Armenia and what that means going forward • The role of Turkey and Azerbaijan in shaping Armenia's security environment • How energy routes and transport corridors drive regional decisions • The Trump Road for International Peace and Prosperity and what it means • Russian disinformation and influence inside Armenia • Why Armenia is trying to balance relations with Iran without getting pulled into conflict • What Armenia can offer the United States as a strategic partner Sarkis explains how Armenia is attempting to transition from a Russia dependent security model to a diversified strategy involving the United States, Europe, India, and France. He also highlights the risks facing Armenian communities in the region, including the danger of spillover from broader conflicts. Timeline / chapters • 00:00 Introduction and Sarkis Karabashian background • 03:41 Armenia's position in the Iran conflict • 07:55 Collapse of Soviet influence and Armenia's early trajectory • 12:00 The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war and military imbalance • 17:18 Russia's failure as a security guarantor • 20:30 Armenia shifts toward new partners • 21:07 Russian disinformation and internal pressure • 24:11 Regional tensions and Turkey Armenia dynamics • 28:14 The Trump Road and transport corridor strategy • 33:09 Early signs of economic normalization • 36:10 Is peace actually possible in the region • 39:58 Armenia's strategic opportunity • 45:00 Risks to Armenian populations in Iran About Sarkis Karabashian Sarkis Karabashian is a geopolitical analyst specializing in Armenian security, Eurasian geopolitics, and regional conflict dynamics. He has conducted extensive field research in Armenia and has worked with policy institutions in Washington, DC, focusing on U.S. Armenia strategic relations and regional security developments. How to find Glenn Corn Glenn Corn is a former CIA Senior Intelligence Service officer and multi-time Chief of Station in some of the world's most difficult posts. You can find him at the Institute of World Politics (https://www.iwp.edu/faculty/glenn-corn/) or his consultancy at Great South Bay Consulting (https://greatsouthbayinc.com/). Restricted Handling Subscribe and receive the daily intelligence brief https://www.restrictedhandling.com/