On July 15, the Armenian-American joint exercises “Eagle Partner-2024” commenced in Armenia and will continue until July 24. These exercises involve servicemen from the peacekeeping brigade of the RA armed forces, US ground troops in Europe and Africa, and the Kansas National Guard.
According to official sources in Yerevan, the aim of the exercises is to increase the interoperability of units participating in international peacekeeping missions, exchange best practices in management and tactical communication, and enhance the readiness of the Armenian unit. The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia also stated that these exercises are part of the preparation for participation in international peacekeeping missions. They are periodic and also conducted in partner countries. The official report from Yerevan noted that the military exercise involves “stabilization operations between the conflicting parties during peacekeeping tasks.”
The US Embassy in Armenia also released a statement regarding the exercises: “The Armenian and American sides will develop their capabilities to conduct peacekeeping operations by conducting fire and stability training, weapons familiarization, and range management activities.”
This is the second time “Eagle Partner” is being held. Last year, 85 American and 175 Armenian servicemen participated in the military exercises.
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The Armenian-American exercises have raised concerns about Armenia’s future. The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, expressed these concerns yesterday, stating that the USA and the EU, as NATO’s economic arm, have carried out similar maneuvers with many countries before. “You know, how does the so-called ‘eagle partnership’ end? Use and then discard. Yerevan is risking destabilizing the situation in the South Caucasus with its own hands, including endangering its own security,” Zakharova said.
According to military expert Mher Hakobyan, these exercises, which have elicited a nervous reaction from the Russian side, are actually an expression of Armenia’s so-called western orientation. “The exercise itself is not so important in a political sense, but the western orientation is significant. I personally view the military exercises positively because contact with Western military thought is always beneficial. However, the problem is whether this westward movement of Armenia at this particular time and space will cause unacceptable risks for us. This is a matter for extensive discussion.”
The expert also notes that the Russian Federation has so many issues that it is unable to meet Armenia’s demands either at the military-technical level or in terms of general security.
“I think Russia will definitely try to retaliate against Armenia. But, on the other hand, Russia is in such a difficult situation that aligning with it could again cause problems for us,” said our interlocutor, adding that it is a complex issue with many parameters that often intersect, making it difficult to provide an objective opinion.
There are reports of a US representative being stationed in the RA Defense Ministry. We questioned what impact this would have on our army, which the RA government is weakening daily.
Having a US representative in the RA Defense Ministry is also seen within the context of the Western orientation. However, there has been no official announcement detailing the scope of this representative’s powers. “The information is closed, and it is difficult even from internal sources to understand who this representative is and what their role will be. It is assumed that this is one step towards reorganizing the RA army according to Western models. Although our authorities often act inconsistently and uncoordinatedly in this area, making it difficult to predict the outcomes. They do not manage the army properly or ensure its development, which has a negative impact.”
Nelly GRIGORYAN
