EPC Summit in Yerevan

European leaders and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney are meeting in Armenia — Yerevan for a European Political Community (EPC) summit to navigate a complex geopolitical environment, heavily influenced by US President Donald Trump's unpredictable policies. Key issues on the agenda include the Iran war, which has caused energy prices to soar, and Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. The summit also addresses the deepening rift in transatlantic ties, highlighted by the United States' decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany following a spat between Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Canada's participation, a first for a non-European leader, signals closer ties with Europe and a collective stance against Donald Trump's tariffs and policies. Armenia, the host nation, is using this opportunity to foster closer ties with Europe and cautiously distance itself from Russia, pursuing a strategy of diversification. An upcoming EU-Armenia summit will further solidify this rapprochement, despite warnings from Russian President Vladimir Putin about the impossibility of dual membership in the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union.