It is not first time in history that Armenia has taken suicidal steps – Yaakov Kedmi

Speaking with Alpha News, Yaakov Kedmi, former head of Israel’s Nativ service, commented on the upcoming meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, the possibility of Israel’s strike on Iran, the US-Armenia strategic partnership deal, and Armenian-Russian relations.

“The purpose of Netanyahu’s visit to Washington is to try to coordinate with Trump further steps regarding the Middle East, first of all, what and how will take place in the Gaza Strip and then complete the truce process with Lebanon. It will be possible to come to agreements, because Trump dictates agreements, and Netanyahu’s opinion in this case is not even consultative,” Kedmi said.

“Biden stopped the delivery of the heavy aerial bombs to Israel, but this delivery will resume, and they will be delivered. This gives Israel additional opportunities, even though we have them, but it won’t hurt. If necessary, they can be very effective in attacking Iran’s nuclear military facilities. Trump is playing a very peculiar game with regard to Iran, quite a natural game. He wants to reach an agreement with Iran to stop its military nuclear program and dismantle all enterprises and all structures that were involved in this and destroy all components for the possible creation of nuclear weapons. In order for Iran to be more complaisant, the United States, in addition to providing huge financial assistance and ending sanctions against Iran, threatens that if Iran does not do this, Israel will destroy its nuclear military facilities, and Iran will be left without nuclear facilities and without American help. The US asks to do everything peacefully, and Iran will even make good money from this,” Kedmi said.

The expert said that the strategic partnership agreement between the United States and Armenia is a sale of Armenia’s national interests.

“A country cannot be bought; a country can be sold. And national security cannot be bought; it can be sold. In this case, Armenia’s national interests are being sold. This strategic agreement, approved by both the Armenian parliament and part of the political elite, cannot provide Armenia with practically anything, because America cannot help Armenia in the geographical area where it is located. The United States will not send its troops anywhere, and especially not to Armenia. And in the event of a military conflict or an offensive by Azerbaijani troops, or Azerbaijani troops together with Turkish troops, Armenia has nothing to do but surrender,” Kedmi said.

The political scientist noted that Armenia’s actions in relations with Russia will make Armenia’s situation worse, but for Russia, it will change nothing.

“If Armenia wants to commit suicide and self-destruction, Russia can only feel sorry for it, but this does not affect Russia. Russia can only be interested in one thing: the territory of Armenia should not turn into the territory of Ukraine, and American or other bases that may threaten Russia should not be deployed there. But in light of the upcoming talks between the United States and Russia, it is unlikely that the United States will take such a dangerous step, which can only dramatically escalate the situation in the Caucasus. This is the last thing the United States needs, and even more so for Russia. But it is not the first or the second time in its history over the past 100 years that Armenia has taken suicidal steps, believing that someone will help it,” Kedmi stressed.

According to the political scientist, Trump is unlikely to continue Biden’s provocative policy of escalating the situation in the Caucasus.

“Trump’s general policy is that he wants to eliminate all conflict situations around the world, including in the Caucasus. Biden had a completely different policy: his administration tried to escalate the situation in the Caucasus in relation to Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

Trump has a completely different policy; he wants to seek concessions from Russia and China through economic pressure but not by provoking international conflicts. Therefore, judging by his statements, it is unlikely that he will continue Biden’s provocative policy of escalating the situation in the Caucasus,” Kedmi concluded