AGC News: Armenia’s alignment with Washington poses threat to Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, and Iran
Armenia, a landlocked country in the South Caucasus, is surrounded by states whose agendas clash with its own, Italian AGC News writes.
As noted, Azerbaijan, still fresh from its military victory in Artsakh, has aspirations for further territorial conquests. Its ally, Turkey, is attempting to establish a direct corridor through Armenian territory to Azerbaijan. Iran, deeply wary of U.S. influence, perceives a threat in Armenia’s turn toward the West. Even Georgia, traditionally viewed as a partner, is likely to retreat in the face of increased U.S. involvement in the region, which could destabilize its delicate geopolitical position.
During Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan’s visit to the U.S., Washington and Yerevan signed a Strategic Partnership Commission charter between the two countries. The charter was welcomed in Washington as a step toward strengthening Armenia’s sovereignty. “Thus, Armenia is leaving the Russian umbrella to slide under U.S. protection,” the news website writes.
According to some analysts in the South Caucasus, “by aligning so closely with the United States, Armenia risks becoming a new Ukraine—a small country strategically located at the epicenter of competition among great powers.” It was noted that Armenia’s partnership with the United States risks alienating it from all its neighbors. “Small countries caught in the crossfire of global power struggles can pay the highest price,” the article says.
The signed charter encompasses a wide range of bilateral cooperation, including defense, security, science, education, energy, and culture, as well as reforms in Armenia’s economic and legal systems.
For example, the management period of the nuclear power plant contract will expire next year. The charter’s final points suggest U.S. funding for reforms. Washington will strengthen its influence over Yerevan through financing, but Armenia will have to deal with not only internal changes. The strengthening of U.S. influence is certainly not good news for Russia, as well as for Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Iran.
