Armenia applies for full membership of Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Armenia, currently a dialogue partner, has formally applied for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to strengthen its ties with Eurasian countries, following a recent visit to China by the country’s foreign minister.
Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan paid an official visit to China from June 24 to 27. The move signals Armenia’s intent to strengthen political and economic ties with the bloc.
Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has confirmed he will attend the bloc’s Summit in Tianjin this week.
Armenia’s decision to join the SCO is not only about signing up to another bloc, but also about striking a balance: building stronger ties with major players across Eurasia, while still carefully managing its relations with Western partners. What Armenia gains from this membership will depend on how well it maintains that balance.
Roman Karapetyan, a professor of political science at the Yerevan State University, says Armenia is taking the right step by deepening cooperation with Eurasian countries, especially China, which he believes has growing influence in the region.
China has become Armenia’s second-largest trading partner.
“Armenia’s trade at this moment is increasing in the Eurasian. Armenian trade is decreasing with the Western side. And as economics is ruling politics, I think we should balance our foreign policy economically as well,” said Karapetyan.
Analysts said with neighboring Iran now part of the SCO, Armenia could gain something it lacks in other blocs — a direct link to the organization’s borders. This could boost trade and create new business opportunities.
“A very wide door of opportunities is opening for us. Cooperation will give Armenia broad chances to attract new financial resources, investment flows, programs for technological development, as well as exchanges,” said Mariam Manukyan, chairman of the International Business Relations Support Council.
Economic cooperation, lawmakers argue, can succeed only if it rests on a strong political foundation.
Armenia’s Parliamentarian Tadevos Avetisyan, who is also a member of the Armenia–China Friendship Group, believes there is significant potential to deepen ties with China.
“Parliamentary diplomacy has significant but still untapped potential. Through it, issues of economic cooperation and collaboration in other areas can be brought onto the political agenda — where solutions can be found,” said Avetisyan.
The SCO, now comprising 10 member states, provides Armenia with new markets, political connections, and the potential for a stronger economy — objectives the country is working to achieve.
