Armenia is not priority for US now – Denis Denisov

Speaking with Alpha News, Denis Denisov, a political scientist and expert at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, commented on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s new statement on the agreement with the United States, talks between the United States and Russia, as well as statements by Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin on the role of the Russian military base in Gyumri.

“Armenia is clearly not among the top priorities of the new President Trump and his administration right now. And, of course, for his popularity, Pashinyan can make statements about a strategic agreement with the United States as much as he likes. However, a lot of time must pass before the implementation, not even full, but at least partial, symbolic implementation. With the current key goals and objectives of the Trump administration, we should not expect that the United States will begin overactive diplomatic or any other work in this region.

After there is some kind of finalization of the conflict in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East, when all these problems disappear-because it is naive to say that they will be resolved-it will be possible to return to this issue and discuss what role the new US administration will take in the conflict resolution in the Caucasus, and within the Armenian-US relations. But so far, there are no such implications at all. That is, the American agenda does not imply that the Caucasus issue will be relevant,” Denisov said.

Referring to the talks between the United States and Russia, the expert noted that Trump and his entourage would like to achieve a quick freeze in the conflict.

“In fact, we talk much more about these talks than we observe them. The consultations and contacts that are underway and have been conducted so far have not brought breakthrough results. We have been actively discussing the US plan to resolve the conflict in Ukraine for three or four months, but the paradox is that there is no such plan now. And the proposals that are coming from US officials even now suggest that Trump and his entourage would like to achieve a quick freeze in the conflict. But any freeze is just a pause for a new conflict and a new war, in which, of course, Russia is not interested. And here we face a huge problem, because in fact, neither the United States, the EU, nor Ukraine actually have any alternative to a holistic system plan that could form the basis of this settlement,” Denisov said.

According to the political scientist, it is important to remember that the presence of the Russian 102nd military base in Gyumri is an important factor for the stability of the entire region.

“There are several dimensions about the presence of our armed forces on the territory of Armenia. And at the moment, the symbolic dimension is much more important than the combat missions they perform at their location. And, of course, it is worth reminding and constantly saying that the presence of this base is indeed the most important factor in the stability of the region. Another thing is that these statements currently do not greatly affect the general rhetoric of the Armenian authorities, but rather lead to misunderstanding and retaliatory rhetoric, which rather escalates the situation than tries to accept the positive element that the deployment of the Russian military brings,” Denisov concluded.