Armenia has initiated military exercises with the USA
**Armenia has initiated military drills with the USA. The "Eagle Partner" maneuvers are intended to prepare units that will participate in international peacekeeping missions, as Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan stated. The joint exercises are part of efforts by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to build closer ties with the West, given deteriorating relations with long-term ally Russia.
The maneuvers, which are scheduled to last until July 24, involve Armenian peacekeepers, US soldiers, and the National Guard of the US state of Kansas. The exact number of soldiers participating was initially unclear.
Relations between Armenia and Russia have deteriorated since Azerbaijan launched a military offensive last year to take control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. This ended a three-decade-old government of ethnic Armenian separatists. Armenian authorities accused Russian peacekeepers stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh of failing to stop the offensive. Moscow dismissed the allegations and argued that the Russian troops had no mandate to intervene.
The Russian government is angry about Armenia's rapprochement with the West. Russia was particularly displeased that Armenia decided to join the International Criminal Court. The ICC has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of war crimes in relation to the Russian war in Ukraine.**
- Despite Russia's displeasure, the United States of America has been named as Armenia's partner in the ongoing "Eagle Partner" military exercises, which include maneuvers by Armenian peacekeepers, US soldiers, and the National Guard of Kansas.
- The participation of Armenian and American forces in the "Eagle Partner" exercises signifies a significant shift in Armenia's military strategy, aiming to enhance its capabilities for future international peacekeeping missions.
- The escalating tension between Armenia and Russia following the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has led Armenia to seek new partnerships, such as the military exercises with the United States of America, in an effort to diversify its international relations.
