The South Caucasus once again finds itself under the scrutiny of outside powers eager to define the terms of its peace. What was meant to be a fragile process of reconciliation between neighbors has increasingly become a stage for geopolitical performance, where Western missions operate not as mediators, but as instruments of influence. The European Union Monitoring Mission in Armenia (EUMA), in particular, has become a case study of how “peacekeeping” can blur into political patronage.