INFRASTRUCTURE SOVEREIGNTY IN THE EU – ARMENIA STRATEGIC AGENDA: A GEOECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE 2026 JOINT DECLARATION

Abstract

This article examines the infrastructure aspects of the 2026 Armenia-European Union (EU) Joint Declaration through the lens of infrastructure sovereignty and geo-economic governance. It is noted that this document establishes an important political framework for expanding cooperation between the EU and Armenia, yet its practical mechanisms remain less developed than its strategic ambitions, particularly in financing, implementation tools, institutional responsibility, and related areas. The paper analyzes the energy and transport dimensions of the new EU–Armenia cooperation agenda. Diversification, regional connectivity, and integration into European infrastructure networks are considered in the context of Armenia’s strategic sustainability. It is noted that diversification should be assessed not only as a reduction in dependence on individual suppliers but also as the preservation of Armenia’s ability to pursue a sovereign energy policy. Particular attention is paid to the prospects for the development of nuclear energy, Armenia’s participation in the Black Sea Power Cable project, the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, integration into the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), and the TRIPP (Trump Route) project. It is argued that infrastructure integration creates new opportunities for Armenia’s economic development and regional positioning, but simultaneously creates new forms of external dependence associated with the regulatory, technological, and institutional influence of external actors. The study concludes that these initiatives may broaden Armenia’s prospects for participation in emerging Eurasian transport networks, but they do not provide effective mechanisms for overcoming the main barrier to regional integration: the absence of political will among regional and some extra-regional actors to fully unblock transport links in the South Caucasus. It therefore emphasizes the need to combine international infrastructure integration with the preservation of national control over strategic sectors.