The visit of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Armenia is a positive fact. Our countries have many areas of cooperation, and I hope that diplomats and international relations specialists will do some joint work to get the most out of a generally successful visit.
I am worried about the euphoria of some “hotheads” in Armenia, the exaggerated expectations that arose because of that visit, and before that, Russia’s mildly unfriendly behavior. A country in the condition of Armenia cannot “depend on the air” in terms of security. To put it simply, our country should be a member of CSTO or NATO.
Which is more preferable? Purely in theory, I think the answer to that question is clear. If you can choose between a 30-year-old, broken-down, low-performance, oil-burning 06, and a Mercedes in normal condition, I don’t think you’ll have to think twice.However, the question is whether they will give us that Mercedes and, even if they do by some miracle, will we be able to drive that car?
If NATO or the USA announce that they will take Armenia under their wing in an accelerated manner after leaving the CSTO, in a few months, then, yes, it is worth thinking in that direction. But such a thing does not happen in reality. Georgia has been wanting to join NATO for two decades, but it has not achieved what it wants. Ukraine is a different matter, no matter how unpleasant it sounds to us, that country is several times more important for the USA and the EU than Armenia and Georgia together.
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Although Ukraine has not yet become a member of NATO, it receives comprehensive military support from the West.
Coming back to us. Does Turkey agree to us becoming a member of NATO? Do we agree that Turkey should also provide our security? A country that is known to wish we weren’t here at all. When Azerbaijan once again attacks Armenia or Artsakh, who will we turn to: the US Congress, and will the Congress send troops and military equipment here?
So, I suggest not to live with illusions: weapons, troops, billions of dollars, Wilson’s map, etc… The USA will not give it to us. It’s just worth remembering that excessive enthusiasm has hindered us over the centuries and also 100 years ago.
Not to be offended by anyone and not to have fantastic expectations from anyone. Especially since Armenia has that positive experience. When in the first half of the 1990s, it had excellent relations with Russia, from where it received weapons, but it also established warm friendly ties with the West, particularly the USA. But for that, a different level of intelligence of the country’s authorities is needed and, as one of my colleagues noticed, “jewelry work.”
Aram Abrahamyan
