Moscow Weighs in on Armenia Seeking to Expand US and EU Ties

Russian officials have responded to Armenia seeking to strengthen ties with the United States and the European Union, Orda reports. 

RBK reports that Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's spokesperson, acknowledged Armenia's sovereign right to forge international relationships, even as he questioned US motives in the South Caucasus.

Armenia's decision to sign a strategic partnership agreement with the United States is an absolutely sovereign right of our Armenian friends, <...> The United States has never played a particularly stabilizing role in the South Caucasus, one might even say the opposite. And just in the context of these actions, on the contrary, the United States, of course, is trying in every possible way to drag more and more countries into its wake,Peskov said. 

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov echoed this stance, acknowledging current tensions in Russian-Armenian relations while emphasizing Russia's commitment to maintaining bilateral ties.

Lavrov also warned about American intentions in the region:

I have a very strong conviction: the United States does not need any competitor in any area, starting with energy, where they, without hesitation, give the go-ahead to carry out terrorist activities to destroy the basis of the energy well-being of the European Union, where they incite their Ukrainian clients to now, following the Nord Streams, also, disable Turkish Stream, RIA Novosti quotes Lavrov as saying.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian drones had targeted a Turkish Stream compressor station in Krasnodar on January 11.

Regarding broader regional issues, Lavrov indicated Russia's willingness to discuss security guarantees "for the country that is now called Ukraine" while insisting on addressing what Moscow sees as threats along its western borders.

On Armenia's potential EU aspirations, Lavrov advised careful consideration, according to News Armenia: 

Of course, the decision of the legitimate Armenian leadership to begin the process of joining any international structure where Armenia is expected is a sovereign decision. But weighing the pros and cons is probably also the responsibility of the Armenian government, he said.

Speaking about the US-Armenia partnership specifically, Lavrov emphasized that Russia doesn't dictate its allies' diplomatic choices but warned about potential hidden agendas:

We also used the terminology 'strategic partnership' in a number of agreements with Western countries, but they have never, while proclaiming a strategic partnership, required one participant or another to act against a third country,  he noted