US, Armenia kick off military drills as Russia ties fray

The US and Armenia started joint military exercises on Monday as Yerevan increasingly looks to the West amid a falling out with Russia.

Exercise Eagle Partner 24 will take place in Armenia until July 24, and servicemembers from the US Army Europe and Africa and the Kansas National Guard will participate.

The drills serve to prepare Armenia to participate in bilateral peacekeeping operations. “Conducting this training allows troops from both nations to become familiar with each other’s equipment,” the US Army said.

While military ties between Washington and Yerevan are not, the pace of drills and cooperation has increased in recent months with relations between the US and Russia all but collapsing amid the Ukraine war.

“The US’ consistent objective is to train and collaborate with partners, ensuring readiness and enhancing interoperability among military forces within the partnership,” a US Army official told Al Arabiya English.

The US has also voiced frustration and condemnation of Azerbaijan’s forced displacement of ethnic Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh. The nearly 100,000 Armenian separatists fled the enclave, after controlling it for almost 30 years. Russian peacekeepers failed to protect the Armenians, drawing fierce Armenian opposition to Moscow’s role.

Russia has been angry at what it perceives as “hostile” decisions by its longtime ally and neighbor, Armenia. Yerevan has opposed the Russian invasion of Ukraine and sent humanitarian aid to Kyiv. Last week, Armenia was also present at the NATO Summit in Washington despite not being a member of the alliance.

This year’s military exercises show that there is no intent to back away from hopes for strengthened ties with the West.

“Working side by side with our Armenian partners in exercises such as Eagle Partner strengthens the trust and friendships between our nations and the men and women of our military services,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Venerdi, Adjutant General of Kansas.

The Kansas National Guard has partnered with Armenia since 2003, as part of the Pentagon’s State Partnership for Peace Program.

Armenia’s defense minister said he valued the bilateral cooperation between the two countries, which he said was “aimed at enhancing the level of interoperability between units participating in international peacekeeping missions within the framework of peacekeeping operations.”