U.S. and Armenian troops began a joint military exercise in Armenia on Monday, which has drawn criticism from Russia. Defense Minister Suren Papikian and U.S. Ambassador Kristina Kvien attended the opening ceremony at Yerevan’s Vazgen Sargsian Military Academy.
Papikian praised the cooperation aimed at increasing interoperability in international peacekeeping missions. Kvien called the Eagle Partner 2024 exercise a “testament to our longstanding partnership with Armenia.”
The Armenian Defense Ministry stated that the exercise involves an Armenian peacekeeping brigade, U.S. Army Europe and Africa, and the Kansas National Guard. The troops will practice “stabilization actions” during a joint peacekeeping operation in an imaginary conflict zone.
The U.S. Army Europe and Africa noted that the exercise will enhance the ability to conduct peacekeeping operations through gunnery and stability training, weapons familiarization, and range management.
Last September, 85 U.S. and 175 Armenian soldiers held a similar exercise near Yerevan, which Russia and Iran also criticized. The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the latest drills, saying they aim to oust Russia and Iran from the region and damage Russian-Armenian military ties.
Relations between Yerevan and Moscow have further deteriorated, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian announcing in February the “freezing” of Armenia’s membership in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Pashinian indicated Armenia might leave the alliance.
Pro-Western Armenian political allies and Western-funded civic groups support the shift away from Russia, citing Moscow’s failure to fulfill security commitments. However, Armenian opposition groups warn that the U.S. and Western powers will not provide security guarantees or significant military aid.
