🇦🇲 Armenia

Armenia is a landlocked South Caucasus nation of 2.8 million — though the global Armenian diaspora numbers around 7 million. GDP is about $24 billion, and the tech sector has become a surprising bright spot, with Yerevan emerging as a regional IT hub. The country is home to one of the oldest Christian civilizations, having adopted Christianity as a state religion in 301 AD. The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war with Azerbaijan reshaped the country's geopolitics dramatically. Armenia's cognac (technically brandy) was reportedly Winston Churchill's drink of choice.

Mining (copper, molybdenum, gold), IT services, and agriculture form the economic base. Russia remains the dominant trade partner, though Armenia's been pivoting toward the EU. The tech sector has grown at 20%+ annually, fueled partly by Russian IT workers relocating after 2022. Remittances from the diaspora contribute about 10% of GDP.

Armenia claims to have the world's oldest winery — a 6,100-year-old wine press was discovered in a cave near the village of Areni. The country also has the world's longest reversible aerial tramway, the Wings of Tatev, stretching 5.7 km over a gorge.

Armenia's tech boom and EU pivot are promising, but the unresolved conflict with Azerbaijan and dependence on Russia create serious strategic vulnerabilities. It's a small country making big bets.