Armenia does not hide its growing frustration with its traditional Russian ally, in the midst of the Ukrainian conflict. This Monday, the Caucasian country began joint military exercises with the United States. According to Yerevan, the Eagle Partner 2023 exercises, scheduled until September 20, aim to “increase the interoperational level” of American and Armenian forces participating in peacekeeping operations.
“We confirm that the opening ceremony of the exercises has begun,” a spokesperson for the US Army for Europe and Africa said Monday afternoon. According to Washington, “around 85 American soldiers will train alongside some 175 Armenian soldiers” in the Zar and Armavir training centers, located near Yerevan.
“Unfriendly measures” for Moscow
These exercises are viewed very negatively by Moscow, which summoned the Armenian ambassador on Friday denouncing “unfriendly measures”. The head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, stressed on Sunday that Russia saw “nothing good in the attempts of an aggressive NATO member country to penetrate the Caucasus”, Russia’s backyard.
On Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov indicated that such a rapprochement between Yerevan and Washington “requires a very, very in-depth analysis”, while insisting that Russia wanted to continue “a close dialogue with the party Armenian”. But in Yerevan, frustration reigns over Russia’s inability to support Armenia against Azerbaijan, and the lack of engagement of Russian peacekeeping forces in the conflict between the two neighbors.
Moscow accused of inaction
The two rival Caucasian countries have fought two wars for control of the mountainous enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, which they have fought over for decades. The last one, in 2020, ended in a defeat for Armenia, which had to cede territories to Azerbaijan in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. Tensions between Baku and Yerevan have worsened in recent months, with Azerbaijan blocking the Lachin corridor, the only route linking Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh, which has caused significant shortages in the enclave populated mainly by ‘Armenians.
Russia, which has a contingent of peacekeepers on site, has failed to contain the crisis and has been accused of inaction on multiple occasions by Armenia. “By pinning its hopes on the Russians, Armenia lost, considering what is happening to us. So now let’s try with the Americans,” says a 27-year-old resident of Yerevan. “Russia did not respect its commitments during the war and even worsened our situation,” accuses Arthour Khatchadourian, a 51-year-old security agent.
Military cooperation with Russia, a “strategic error”
In the eyes of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, Moscow is either “incapable of maintaining control over the Lachin corridor, or it does not have the will”. In an unprecedented diatribe, he even described Yerevan’s dependence on Russia in security matters as a “strategic error”.
Another novelty for Armenia, the wife of Nikol Pashinian went to Kiev last week to participate in a meeting of spouses of leaders organized by the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on humanitarian issues. “Armenians are frustrated with Russia, which failed to help them during the Karabakh war or deal with its consequences,” summarizes independent analyst Arkady Dubnov, adding that Moscow “also seems to lack a clear plan , of a strategy in the Caucasus”.