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ARMENIA THE AMBIDEXTROUS
Strategy Page
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htlead/articles/20120224.aspx
Feb 24 2012
February 24, 2012: The U.S. and Armenia have agreed to hold joint
military training exercises this April, in Rumania. Armenia has 130
troops in Afghanistan, and is sending more. Armenia wants to develop
better relations with the United States. The week long exercises
will enable both countries to improve the ability of their troops to
operate together.
Armenia lives in a rough neighborhood, and needs all the friends it
can get. Neighbors include Georgia (another American ally), Turkey
(a NATO member) and Azerbaijan (an ancient enemy). What is odd about
all this is that Armenia, formerly part of the Soviet Union, is now
a Russian ally, and hosts a permanent Russian garrison.
Last month Russia announced that the major military exercise this
year, "Caucasus-2012", would be held in Southern Russia (including
the Caucasus), Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Armenia and would simulate
operations if there were a war against Iran by Israel and the United
States. Russia is a staunch ally of Iran.
In the early 1990s, Armenia went to war with Azerbaijan to annex
an Armenian majority district (Nagorno-Karabakh) that was separated
from Armenia by a strip of Azerbaijan territory (populated largely
by Azeris). Although Azerbaijan is larger than Armenia, and has oil,
the Armenians are better fighters, and the conflict festers, despite
a 1994 ceasefire.
Strategy Page
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htlead/articles/20120224.aspx
Feb 24 2012
February 24, 2012: The U.S. and Armenia have agreed to hold joint
military training exercises this April, in Rumania. Armenia has 130
troops in Afghanistan, and is sending more. Armenia wants to develop
better relations with the United States. The week long exercises
will enable both countries to improve the ability of their troops to
operate together.
Armenia lives in a rough neighborhood, and needs all the friends it
can get. Neighbors include Georgia (another American ally), Turkey
(a NATO member) and Azerbaijan (an ancient enemy). What is odd about
all this is that Armenia, formerly part of the Soviet Union, is now
a Russian ally, and hosts a permanent Russian garrison.
Last month Russia announced that the major military exercise this
year, "Caucasus-2012", would be held in Southern Russia (including
the Caucasus), Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Armenia and would simulate
operations if there were a war against Iran by Israel and the United
States. Russia is a staunch ally of Iran.
In the early 1990s, Armenia went to war with Azerbaijan to annex
an Armenian majority district (Nagorno-Karabakh) that was separated
from Armenia by a strip of Azerbaijan territory (populated largely
by Azeris). Although Azerbaijan is larger than Armenia, and has oil,
the Armenians are better fighters, and the conflict festers, despite
a 1994 ceasefire.