This announcement emerges against the backdrop of Armenia’s escalating tensions with its longstanding ally, Russia. This isn’t the first instance of such cooperation, as Armenia is slated to host an additional joint military exercise with the U.S. later this month.
The Armenian Defense Ministry has released additional details about the forthcoming Eagle Partner 2024 exercise. This drill, part of a regular series with ‘partner countries,’ will focus on tasks related to peacekeeping missions. The exercise will include soldiers from Armenia’s special peacekeeping brigade, U.S. Army Europe and Africa, and the Kansas National Guard.
The ministry said that the objective of these exercises is to improve interoperability among the participating forces. To accomplish this, they will simulate ‘stabilization actions’ during a joint peacekeeping operation in a theoretical conflict zone.
“The exercise will build on Armenian and U.S. collective ability to conduct peacekeeping operations by performing gunnery and stability training, weapons familiarization, and range management,” read a separate statement released by U.S. Army Europe and Africa.
“Conducting this training allows troops from both nations to become familiar with each other’s equipment.”
“Working side by side with our Armenian partners in exercises such as Eagle Partner strengthens the trust and friendships between our nations and the men and women of our military services” Brigadier General Michael Venerdi was quoted as saying.
In search of reliable allies
Armenia, once considered Russia’s closest ally in the South Caucasus, has seen its relationship with Moscow deteriorate in recent years. This strain is largely due to Yerevan’s perception that Russia has not adequately defended it against its neighbor, Azerbaijan. Demonstrating Armenia’s shifting alliances, joint military drills were conducted last September.
These involved 85 U.S. and 175 Armenian soldiers at two training grounds outside Yerevan and were observed by two U.S. generals and the Armenian Defense Minister, Suren Papikyan.
Both Russia and its neighbor, Iran, criticized the drills conducted in 2023. The Russian Foreign Ministry categorized these drills as part of Yerevan’s ‘unfriendly’ actions. This was communicated through a note of protest handed to the Armenian ambassador in Moscow.
Since then, Russian-Armenian relations have further deteriorated, with Armenia putting its membership in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) on hold. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has repeatedly expressed his intention to eventually withdraw his country from the military alliance of former Soviet states. Furthermore, Pashinyan’s administration has indicated plans to pursue Armenia’s membership in the European Union.
Pashinyan’s political allies, along with Western-funded civic groups, have welcomed the pro-Western shift in Armenia’s traditional geopolitical orientation. In contrast, Armenian opposition groups have expressed serious concerns about this shift. They argue that the policy change is reckless, as the U.S. and other Western powers will not provide Armenia with security guarantees or significant military aid.
Although Armenia continues to be a treaty ally of Russia, it has repeatedly said that it does not support Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Armenia has sent humanitarian aid to Kyiv, a move that has drawn the ire of Russia.
Coincidentally, the 2023 U.S.-Armenian exercise concluded just a day after Azerbaijan initiated a large-scale military operation. This operation led to the entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh fleeing to Armenia and enabled Baku to regain control of the region.
