| 20 September 2023
| Christie Anto
In a resolute display of military cooperation, U.S. soldiers have remained steadfast in their commitment to a joint military exercise with Armenian forces in Armenia, despite the launch of a major military operation by neighboring Azerbaijan. This affirmation of solidarity, according to a U.S. military spokesperson, underscores the significance of the ongoing military drills and their implications for regional stability.
The 10-day "Eagle Partner 2023" exercise, which commenced on September 11, has continued uninterrupted, involving 85 U.S. soldiers and 175 Armenian personnel. The exercises aim to enhance the readiness of Armenian units for participation in international peacekeeping missions. They have taken place at two training grounds near the capital city of Yerevan.
The decision to maintain the exercise in the face of Azerbaijan's "antiterrorist" operation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region was based on a comprehensive risk assessment. The U.S. military spokesperson stated, "We were aware that they were conducting operations, but we didn't assess there to be any risk to our soldiers at the time, and so they remained for the duration of the exercise."
The Armenian Ministry of Defence articulated the exercise's purpose as promoting greater interoperability among participating units for international peacekeeping missions and fostering the exchange of best practices in control and tactical communication. Although the scale of the drill is modest, it has nonetheless drawn the attention of Russia, which maintains a military base in Armenia and considers itself the region's primary security guarantor.
The exercise's continuation is not without its geopolitical context. Earlier this year, Armenia declined to host military drills conducted by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Russian-led alliance of post-Soviet nations. This decision revealed growing tensions between Yerevan and Moscow.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently voiced his concerns about Russia's role in protecting Armenia against what he termed "continuing aggression" from Azerbaijan. Pashinyan suggested that Russia's involvement in the conflict in Ukraine has constrained its capacity to fulfill Armenia's security requirements.
The backdrop to these developments is the long-standing conflict between Armenia and neighboring Azerbaijan, which have fought two wars in the three decades following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The fragile peace in the region continues to be tested, and the international community watches closely to see how the evolving dynamics may impact the security landscape.
The resilience of the joint military exercise between the U.S. and Armenia, amid heightened tensions and regional complexities, underscores the commitment of both nations to strengthen their defense cooperation and uphold the principles of peace and stability. As the "Eagle Partner 2023" exercise concludes, its enduring significance in the evolving geopolitics of the South Caucasus remains a matter of keen observation for international observers and stakeholders alike.
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