Turan Research Center

Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan visited Israel on November 27, 2025, engaging in a series of meetings with senior Israeli officials. Such visits are rare, as relations between the two countries have long remained mostly neutral. The current meeting can be considered historic as it indicates a significant development in the relationship between Israel and Armenia. While closer ties between Jerusalem and Yerevan are welcome, significant obstacles still need to be addressed.

Armenia has always been wary of Israel’s support for Azerbaijan, with which it maintains a strategic partnership encompassing areas ranging from economics to security. However, Israel’s ties with Azerbaijan were established immediately after Azerbaijan gained independence, and the strategic partnership with Baku was never intended to target Armenia. Additionally, Armenia remains aligned with Iran, a regime that is deeply hostile to Israel’s existence.

Israel has also voiced concern over rising antisemitism in Armenia. In recent years, there have been several acts of vandalism targeting Jewish sites, including four attacks on a synagogue in the capital, Yerevan. Antisemitic content on Armenian social media has also increased, particularly in response to Israeli arms deliveries to Azerbaijan. The Armenian lobby in the United States has attempted to pressure Congress to restrict American military aid to Israel unless Jerusalem ceases its provision of weapons to Baku.

Read the full article on the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security.

Alex Grinberg is a Senior Fellow at the Turan Research Center.