Moscow and Washington have a big fight for Armenia – Viktor Baranets

Speaking with Alpha News, Russian military columnist Viktor Baranets commented on the recent statement by US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien that the United States will contribute to the separation of Armenia from Russia, as well as the need to have logistics routes from Central Asia to Europe bypassing China and Russia through Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“This so-called ‘Zangezur corridor’ is a long-standing dream of the United States and NATO. They want to string these former countries of the Soviet Union like beads, and, of course, have control over them. But we (Russia) are seriously hindering them together with China because we have our own road project.

Anyone who wants to participate in this road project can do so. The main thing is that there is a really serious fight going on—a fight for influence in Central Asia and so on,” Baranets said.

According to Baranets, the United States promotes its interests in Armenia through the country’s leadership, and the main goal is to detach Armenia from interaction with Russia.

“Pashinyan has taken a sharp course towards leaving the CSTO. First, he did not congratulate someone on his birthday, then he did not attend the meeting, then he said that he would not pay money to the CSTO, then he conducted exercises with the Americans under the nose of the Russian base. You know, I will speak to you without using diplomatic language. It is Armenia that is separating from Russia.

It is not the Armenian people who are pulling Armenia away from Russia, but its leadership, generously egged on by the United States. To pull Armenia away from Russia’s influence is, of course, the golden dream of the leadership of the United States. Pashinyan is already trying to dig a grave on the border between Armenia and Russia. However, most likely, he will get into it himself,” he stressed.

Baranets is confident that despite the destructive role of the West in Armenia, the Armenian people will have their final word.

“Moscow and Washington are having a big fight going on for Armenia. So far, it seems that the United States is making serious progress. Armenia’s withdrawal threatens us with great trouble. You understand that sooner or later, the Americans will demand that Pashinyan expel our military base. Our border guards will no longer guard the Armenian border.

Well, dear friends, I see perfectly well that if relations between Yerevan and Moscow go further according to this scenario, a great historical tragedy awaits the Armenian people. However, ask the Armenian people: do they want to be friends with Washington or with Moscow? Then you will see that the people will give an answer that is strikingly different from Pashinyan’s opinion,” the expert concluded.