Kremlin claims the U.S. is fueling instability in the Caucasus

The Kremlin stated on Tuesday that Russia highly values its strong ties with Armenia, asserting that the United States, which is poised to finalize a strategic partnership agreement with Armenia, has never contributed to stability in the region. Armenia, a former Soviet republic, has historically been a significant ally of Russia; however, in recent years, it has been strengthening its connections with Western nations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked during a daily briefing that the United States is actively attempting to draw new countries into its sphere of influence. He further noted that Washington has not played a notably stabilizing role in the South Caucasus, suggesting the contrary may be true.

Later on Tuesday, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken are expected to sign the strategic partnership agreement in Washington, although the State Department and the Armenian ministry have not provided additional details. The U.S. and Armenia conduct annual joint military exercises in Armenia and have established multiple trade and investment agreements. Additionally, the U.S. is home to a significant Armenian diaspora.

Last week, Armenia’s parliament approved a bill to initiate the country’s application for European Union membership, although a swift accession is deemed unlikely. Meanwhile, relations between Yerevan and Moscow have deteriorated, with Armenia criticizing Russia for its perceived failure to protect it from Azerbaijan, particularly during a brief conflict in 2023. Despite being a treaty ally of Russia, Armenia has consistently expressed its disapproval of Moscow’s actions in Ukraine and has provided humanitarian assistance to Kyiv.