Erdogan Invited to Yerevan as EPC Summit Approaches

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has received an invitation to attend the European Political Community (EPC) summit scheduled for May 4 in Yerevan. The event, themed Building the Future: Unity and Resilience in Europe, will be co-chaired by European Council President António Costa and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. As of late April, Ankara has maintained silence regarding the President’s attendance, with officials noting that the final list of participants remains unconfirmed.

The Diplomatic Stakes of the Yerevan Summit

The EPC serves as a strategic platform for dialogue among European nations, excluding Russia and Belarus due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. For Armenia, hosting this summit represents a significant diplomatic milestone, placing the country at the center of a high-level European forum. The presence or absence of the Turkish leader will be interpreted as a barometer for the current state of the Armenia-Turkey normalization process, a fragile but essential track for regional stability.

Patterns of Participation and Regional Context

Erdogan’s track record regarding EPC summits is selective. While he attended meetings in Prague, Budapest, and Tirana, he notably skipped summits in Spain, Moldova, the United Kingdom, and Denmark. This inconsistency suggests that his decision-making is often calibrated to specific geopolitical priorities rather than a blanket commitment to the platform. Under the EPC protocol, which requires the presence of heads of state or government, Turkey’s potential absence would leave the nation unrepresented at the table.

Institutional Accountability and Future Outlook

The Armenian government’s decision to extend this invitation reflects a policy of proactive regional engagement, aimed at fostering a rules-based order in the South Caucasus. However, the success of such initiatives depends heavily on the willingness of all regional actors to move beyond rhetoric toward tangible institutional cooperation. Whether Erdogan chooses to visit Yerevan will reveal much about Turkey’s immediate commitment to the normalization process and its willingness to engage within a multilateral European framework. Ultimately, the summit’s value will be defined by the quality of the dialogue held, regardless of the final guest list, as Armenia continues to navigate the complexities of regional integration while upholding its commitment to democratic transparency.