On Friday Sept. 15, Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan, joined by U.S. Ambassador Kristina Kvien, Deputy Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army in Europe and Africa Command Brig. Gen. Patrick Ellis, and Commander of the U.S. 10th Mountain Division Major General Gregory, along with others, observed the joint U.S.-Armenian military exercise “Eagle Partner 2023.” The invitees observed the active phase of the training where Armenian troops are being prepared for participation in international peacekeeping missions, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia told Armenia’s NEWS.am. The exercise, which began on Sept. 11 and runs through Sept. 20, involves 85 U.S. soldiers and 175 Armenian soldiers.
Leonid Slutsky, Chairman of the Russian State Duma’s Committee on International Affairs, said on Sept. 14 that the U.S. wants to ramp up its assistance to Armenia as a way of gaining an anti-Russian foothold in South Caucasus. TASS notes that U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Yuri Kim said earlier in testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the U.S. should increase its comprehensive assistance to Armenia, including in the defense and security areas.
