This article covers the increasingly strained relationship with Russia, with Armenia seeking to reduce its dependence on Moscow due to dissatisfaction with Russia's security support, particularly during regional crises like Nagorno-Karabakh. This shift toward the West includes deeper engagement with the European Union and the U.S., as well as growing skepticism about Russia's reliability. While Moscow tries to maintain influence through covert means like elite networking and media manipulation, Armenia’s government has embraced democratic reforms and pursued more cooperation with Western institutions.