On Monday, Armenia launched joint military drills with the United States, highlighting a significant shift in its geopolitical alignment as relations with its traditional ally Russia continue to sour. The exercises, known as “Eagle Partner 2024,” aim to enhance the interoperability of units participating in international peacekeeping missions. The drills are taking place at the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Academy in Yerevan and will run until July 24.
The opening ceremony was attended by Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan and U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien. In his speech, Papikyan underscored the importance of the collaboration between Armenian forces and their U.S. counterparts, noting, “I highly appreciate the work of the U.S. Army Europe and Africa, and the Kansas National Guard, which has been a partner of Armenia for more than two decades.” He also commended the efforts of all personnel involved in planning the exercises, stating, “I also commend the military personnel of the Peacekeeping Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, representatives of the U.S. Embassy, and employees of the RA Ministry of Defense who participated in the effective planning of these exercises.”
Ambassador Kvien echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the strength of the Armenia-U.S. relationship. “The Eagle Partner 2024 exercise is a testament to our longstanding partnership with Armenia,” she said during the ceremony. The event also included performances of the national anthems of Armenia and the United States, as well as the anthem of the “Eagle Partner 2024” exercise.
The “Eagle Partner 2024” drills involve Armenian peacekeeping forces, servicemen from the U.S. Army Europe and Africa, and the Kansas National Guard. Although the exact number of participating troops has not been disclosed, the exercises focus on stabilization actions in a simulated conflict zone, weapons familiarization, and range management. According to a statement from the U.S. Army Europe and Africa, “The exercise will build on Armenian and U.S. collective ability to conduct peacekeeping operations by performing gunnery and stability training, weapons familiarization, and range management.”
Armenia’s decision to engage in these drills has drawn criticism from Russia, a long-time ally. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia has been Armenia’s main economic partner and ally, maintaining a military base in the country and leading the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a security alliance of former Soviet states. However, relations between Yerevan and Moscow have deteriorated, particularly following Azerbaijan’s rapid military campaign last year to reclaim the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Armenian authorities accused Russian peacekeepers, deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh after a previous round of hostilities in 2020, of failing to stop Azerbaijan’s advance. Moscow rejected the accusations, arguing that its troops lacked a mandate to intervene.
The strain in Armenian-Russian relations has been further exacerbated by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s announcement in January that Armenia would not host Russian-led military exercises for the CSTO in 2023. This decision and the ongoing military cooperation with the U.S. reflect Armenia’s strategic pivot towards strengthening ties with Western allies.
