(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 17. In the past fewdays, some news outlets have shared details from a document thattalks about agreements made during a meeting involving US Secretaryof State Antony Blinken, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan,and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Thesedocuments outline plans for future military and technicalcooperation between Western countries and Armenia.
Two things stand out in the document. First, the US is backingefforts to improve security along the border. What's interesting isthat they're talking about the border between Armenia and Iran indicates strategic interests and priorities in relationsbetween Washington and Yerevan. It is quite evident that Armeniaseems to be turning into a place against Iran, not far fromTehran.
For Iran, this is definitely going to be a major challenge. Nowthe US will be able to use Armenia as a base for spying andstirring up trouble against Iran. So basically, the US istightening the screws around Iran, leaving fewer countries nearbythat Iran can really get along with.
Despite what the advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader said about theWest intervening in the Caucasus, Iran's still keeping its cardsclose to its chest. Talking about that trilateral meeting inBrussels, he said, "They just want to ramp up tension and findreasons to deploy their military here, all in the name of keepingthe region safe and independent".
The second part of the document focuses more on the EU'sinterests and addresses security mechanisms at the border. A keypoint is the EU's support for the Armenian government's decision toremove Russia's border patrol from Yerevan Airport, theArmenian-Iranian border, and other border points. The EU'ssatisfaction is clear, as Russia is currently the bloc's maingeopolitical rival. The Armenian government's decision alignsperfectly with the EU's interests.
Armenia is becoming a tool for Western countries to expand theirinfluence in new regions. This is significant for Western nations,given that Armenia's political weakness and uncertainty allow theUS and EU to exploit the situation to simultaneously weaken Russiaand Iran. This approach enables Western countries to enhance theirinternational influence while diminishing that of their rivals.
The issue for Armenia is that it's losing its politicalsovereignty. Yerevan won't be able to make political and economicdecisions based on its own interests; instead, it'll have toconsider the interests of its "friends".
Regarding mentions of Azerbaijan, the document only includes onesuch point: Europe promises to assist Armenia in strengthening itsborder with Azerbaijan by funding the construction of engineeringfortifications. This European approach is quite disappointing. Truepeace in the region can only come after a peace agreement issigned. Allocating funds for building engineering structures,barbed wire, and other security measures isn't a serioussolution.
Signing a peace agreement would pave the way for post-conflictpeacebuilding, including transport and economic relations, which isa practical blueprint for the region's future development. On theother hand, aiding in the construction of fortifications andsimilar structures is merely a waste of taxpayers' money and won'tbenefit Armenia. Overall, an analysis of the document shows thatthe interests of Armenia, as well as its long-term development,were never a priority for either the US or the EU.
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