This Monday, the military exercises Eagle Partner 2023 began near the Armenian capital, Yerevan, triggering complex diplomatic reactions.
Armenia, a small country nestled in the Caucasus, has long maintained close ties with Russia in terms of security and military cooperation. However, the Eagle Partner 2023 exercises involving the United States indicate a gradual departure from this traditional alignment.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Army for Europe and Africa confirmed the start of these exercises, stating that they are intended to strengthen military cooperation between Armenia and the United States. This statement comes only three days after Russia summoned the Armenian ambassador, denouncing “unfriendly measures.”
Armenia’s closer ties with the United States are seen as a clear sign of Armenia’s desire to diversify its international partnerships. Armenian authorities have maintained that these exercises should not be interpreted as a complete break with Russia but rather as an attempt to enhance its regional diplomatic and security position.
Russia, on the other hand, is closely monitoring this development. The Kremlin traditionally views the Caucasus as a strategic sphere of influence. Joint military exercises between Armenia and the United States are seen as Armenia’s attempt to position itself more firmly on the global geopolitical stage, which could complicate relations between Yerevan and Moscow in the future.
