Armenia and the US began joint military exercises this Monday, an initiative that illustrates the growing division between this Caucasian country, a traditional ally of Moscow, and Russia in the midst of the Ukrainian conflict.
The ‘Eagle Partner 2023’ exercises, which run until the 20th of this monthaimed at “increasing the level of interoperability” of U.S. and Armenian military forces engaged in peacekeeping operations.
According to Washington 85 American soldiers belonging to the US Military Command for Europe and Africa will train together with 175 Armenian soldiers. in the centers of Zar and Armavir, near Yerevan.
Moscow does not view these exercises favorably and summoned the Armenian ambassador to the Russian capital on Friday, labeling them as “unfriendly measures”.
On Sunday, the head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, stressed that Russia “saw nothing good in attempts to penetrate the Caucasus by an aggressive member of NATO,” the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
But there is frustration in Yerevan over Russia’s inability to support Armenia in the fight against Azerbaijan and the lack of involvement of Russian peacekeepers in the conflict between the two rival Caucasus neighbors, who have fought two wars for control of the region Nagorno. they have been arguing for decades.
Tensions between Baku and Yerevan have worsened in recent months, with Azerbaijan blocking the Lachine corridor, the only road connecting Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh, causing major restrictions on imports.
Russia, which has a contingent of peacekeepers on the ground, has failed to control the crisis and has been repeatedly accused of inaction by Armenia.
“By pinning its hopes on the Russians, Armenia has lost, given what is happening to us. Now let’s try it with the Americans,” 27-year-old Mariam Anahamian, a resident of Yerevan, told AFP.
“Russia has failed to fulfill its obligations during the war and has even worsened our situation,” accused Arthour Khatchadourian, a 51-year-old security officer.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pachinian stated that Moscow “cannot or will not maintain control over the Lachine corridor”, and admitted that Yerevan’s dependence on Russia in security matters was a “strategic mistake”.
“Armenians are frustrated with Russia, which failed to help them during the Nagorno-Karabakh war and to deal with its consequences,” independent analyst Arkady Doubnov summarized, adding that Moscow “also does not seem to have a clear plan or strategy have in the Caucasus”.
Embroiled in the war in Ukraine and isolated on the international stage, “a weakened Russia is rapidly losing influence in its Soviet-era backyard,” he added.
The last war between Baku and Yerevan, in 2020, ended with the defeat of Armenia, which had to cede territory in and around Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan.
Although Russia agreed to a ceasefire and deployed its peacekeeping forces in Nagorno-Karabakh in the fall of 2020, its influence over the warring parties is already halfway there.
The European Union (EU) and the United States have taken the lead in mediating between the rivals in the Caucasus, although no progress has been made so far.
Source: DN
