Armenia’s Defense Minister Suren Papikyan was joined by U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien to kick off the “Eagle Partner 2024” joint Armenia-United States military exercises at the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Academic in Yerevan on Monday.
“I highly appreciate the work of the U.S. Army in Europe and Africa and the Kansas Army National Guard, which has been a partner of Armenia for more than two decades, the servicemen of the Peacekeeping Brigade of the Armenian Armed Forces, representatives of the U.S. Embassy and employees of the Armenian Ministry of Defense who participated in the effective planning of the exercises,” Papikyan said during remarks made at the opening ceremony.
“The Eagle Partner exercise is a testament to our longstanding partnership with Armenia and builds upon decades of successful security cooperation, underpinned by Armenia’s enduring relationship with the Kansas National Guard under the Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program,” Kvien said in her remarks at the ceremony.
A military parade by the participants followed the official opening of the drills, which are expected to last until July 24.
The exercises involve military personnel from the peacekeeping brigade of the Armenian Armed Forces, the U.S. Army in Europe and Africa and the Kansas Army National Guard.
The exercises involve stabilization actions between conflicting parties during the implementation of peacekeeping tasks.
The purpose of the exercise is to increase the level of coordination of units participating in international peacekeeping missions within the framework of peacekeeping operations, exchange best practices in the field of management and tactical communication, as well as increase the combat readiness of the Armenian unit.
This is the second of such exercises that are being held in Armenia, with the first one having taken place last year.
The Russian foreign ministry stepped up its criticism of Yerevan on Friday regarding the joint U.S.-Armenia drills.
At a press briefing, the Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova voiced Moscow’s “regret” and noted that drills were being held for the second time, and this year against the backdrop of Yerevan freezing its participating the Russia-backed Collective Security Treaty Organization, and amid escalating criticism of Russia by Armenian officials.
“Whatever peaceful peacekeeping goals the Westerners claim to have, the main objective is obvious: to create a springboard for the realization of their own geopolitical agenda,” Zakharova said. “The presence of Americans in the Caucasus will only fuel the potential of conflicts in the region and create new divisions.”
