Moscow sends signals to Armenia – Boris Rozhin on Shoigu’s statement

Speaking with Alpha News, Boris Rozhin, an expert at the Russian Center for Military and Political Journalism, commented on Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu’s statement that the situation in the South Caucasus remains difficult; external players are hindering this, but there are prerequisites for its improvement.

“We see an expansion of military cooperation and an increased preparation for the military presence of the United States and France in Armenia. These issues are already under discussion. Of course, such activities are directed both against the interests of Russia, including the Russian military presence in Armenia, and against the interests of Iran. The United States is Iran’s obvious enemy, and, naturally, such activities near Iran’s borders, in a region that Iran considers vital to its interests, are, among other things, a provocation against Iran, which at this moment is one of the de facto guarantors of the existence of Armenia and its current borders.

Moscow periodically sends signals, showing that you cannot simultaneously be friends with Russia and support those forces with which Russia is in a state of cold war. Such signals are sent not only by Shoigu,” Rozhin said.

According to the expert, Russia is ready to work with Armenia if Armenia has an appropriate policy.

“Russia is ready to work constructively with Armenia, but again, if Armenia has an appropriate policy. Pashinyan recently came to Russia and tried to send some positive signals, but Russia is not falling for some simply beautiful gestures. That is, leaders are expected to take real actions that will allow them to build normal relations. Now, of course, these relations cannot be considered normal, given that on the one hand, Pashinyan goes to Moscow, talks about good relations, and then conducts training exercises with NATO and talks about the withdrawal of Russian troops from Armenia. Of course, constructive relations cannot be built this way,” Rozhin concluded.