Armenia and the United States initiated joint military exercises on Monday, September 11, signaling an evolving dynamic in Yerevan’s foreign policy away from Moscow’s influence, especially in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is altering the landscape of post-Soviet relations.
Joint military drills between Armenian and US forces opened on Monday, the latest sign of Yerevan drifting from Moscow’s orbit as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reshapes post-Soviet relations.
The exercises come amid mounting frustration in Armenia over what it sees as Russia’s failure to act as a security guarantor amid mounting tensions with its historic rival Azerbaijan.
Armenia’s defense ministry said the exercises aimed to “increase the level of interoperability” with US forces in international peacekeeping missions.
The US Army Europe and Africa Command said the drills would help Armenia’s 12th Peacekeeping Brigade meet NATO standards ahead of an evaluation later this year.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Armenia’s decision not to conduct drills with the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) alliance and instead work with the US required “very deep analysis”.
Moscow last week summoned Armenia’s ambassador to complain about “unfriendly steps” the country was taking.
The ministry said Armenia’s envoy was given a “tough” rebuke but insisted that the countries “remain allies.”
In Yerevan, residents expressed frustration over Russia’s lack of military and political support as tensions with Azerbaijan flared again.
Russia brokered a ceasefire and deployed 2,000 peacekeepers to the Lachin corridor, which connects Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh.
But Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently said Moscow was either “unable or unwilling” to control the Lachin corridor.
Pashinyan’s government has accused Azerbaijan of closing the road and blockaded the mountainous region, spurring a humanitarian crisis in Armenian-populated towns.
Pashinyan also recently claimed that Armenia’s historic security reliance on Russia was a “strategic mistake”.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
