US and EU reaffirm support for Armenia amid regional strife
Leaders from the United States and the European Union have pledged ongoing support for Armenia during a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Friday. This commitment comes after Azerbaijan reclaimed the region of Karabakh in September 2023.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the United States' commitment to enhancing Armenia's democracy and economic resilience, highlighting support in areas such as food security, digital infrastructure, and energy diversification. "We will continue to support the 100,000 ethnic Armenians displaced from the Nagorno-Karabakh region. This is central to Armenia's long-term stability," Blinken stated.
Despite Armenia's historical alliance with Russia, recent months have seen a stark decline in their relationship. Armenia has been actively seeking closer ties with Western nations, attributing its shift to Russia's failure to protect it from Azerbaijan and distancing itself from Russia's involvement in Ukraine.
The meeting in Brussels, criticized by Russia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey as unhelpful to South Caucasus peace efforts, underscored the strategic importance of this region, known for its critical energy and gas pipelines.
EU President Ursula Von der Leyen, alongside the bloc's Foreign Policy Chief, Josep Borrell, highlighted the importance of economic integration, particularly in energy and telecom sectors, for the stability of the South Caucasus. Von der Leyen noted, "The European Union and Armenia are increasingly aligned in values and interest," mentioning efforts to bolster Armenia's security capabilities and prevent lethal technologies from reaching the Russian military.
"Our relations are developing on a positive track; they are stronger than ever," Borrell concluded, signaling a deepening partnership between Armenia and the European bloc.
