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EXPERT: U.S. TRYING TO SHAPE ARMENIA INTO ALLY FOR ANTI-IRANIAN POLICY
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 27, 2012 - 20:56 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - In America's eyes, Armenia might be in the most
important position of any US ally to pursue anti-Iranian policy,
Truman Project's Daniel Gaynor writes.
In his article, the expert tries to answer the question as to why
the U.S. prioritizes cooperation with Armenia.
"Few countries are in better position to shape US foreign policy than
Armenia. Armenia borders Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Iran. As a
part of the former Soviet Union, it relies on nearby Russia extensively
for trade and military backing. The U.S. has a significant stake in all
five countries, and Armenia is now coming into view as a potentially
potent lever to advance American aims.That is, if the Armenians can
be won over.As the US tries to woo Armenia to become a stronger ally
in the region, the term "geostrategic" has never been more apt.
Armenia is literally at the center of a number of countries that
Washington considers among its top priorities. As President Obama tries
to accomplish key foreign policy objectives-like preventing Iran from
attaining nuclear bombs or seeing democracy flourish in Russia-he's
got to encourage Armenia to play along. To Armenia's south, one such
issue is unfolding in Iran's nuclear centrifuges," the article reads.
"America is racing to develop every diplomatic pressure point it can on
Iran, lest Israel launch a preemptive attack and embroil America in a
third Middle East war in ten years. One of those pressure points goes
straight through Armenia. While the US has cut off formal relations
with Iran-Washington talks through Switzerland's embassy there-it's
no secret that it employs a variety of foreign policy crowbars to
influence and destabilize Iran's ruling regime. Some, like President
Obama's latest round of economic sanctions, are well known.
Partnering with Armenia is not, but could have a major impact. Through
economic and diplomatic incentives, the U.S. is actively trying to
shape Armenia into an ally. As President Obama seeks to economically
isolate Iran-his sanctions have cut the value of Iran currency in
half-he is trying to regionally isolate the regime, as well. Armenia
is key to that strategy.
For Armenia, the game is far less simple. Partnering with the U.S.-with
whom it has a good, but not great, relationship-could alienate
the few friends Armenia has left in the South Caucasus region. It
wants military cooperation with Russia, but economic access to the
west. While it has tried to deepen relations with the European Union
and the U.S., Armenia's two best friends at the moment are arguably
the U.S.'s most challenging adversaries: Russia and Iran.
That's not necessarily because of shared ideologies, or even shared
interests; it's because Armenia doesn't have many friends to pick
from. Of its four neighbors, two-Turkey and Azerbaijan- have closed
off their borders to Armenia," Mr. Gaynor writes, according to
stratrisks.com.
PanARMENIAN.Net
September 27, 2012 - 20:56 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - In America's eyes, Armenia might be in the most
important position of any US ally to pursue anti-Iranian policy,
Truman Project's Daniel Gaynor writes.
In his article, the expert tries to answer the question as to why
the U.S. prioritizes cooperation with Armenia.
"Few countries are in better position to shape US foreign policy than
Armenia. Armenia borders Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Iran. As a
part of the former Soviet Union, it relies on nearby Russia extensively
for trade and military backing. The U.S. has a significant stake in all
five countries, and Armenia is now coming into view as a potentially
potent lever to advance American aims.That is, if the Armenians can
be won over.As the US tries to woo Armenia to become a stronger ally
in the region, the term "geostrategic" has never been more apt.
Armenia is literally at the center of a number of countries that
Washington considers among its top priorities. As President Obama tries
to accomplish key foreign policy objectives-like preventing Iran from
attaining nuclear bombs or seeing democracy flourish in Russia-he's
got to encourage Armenia to play along. To Armenia's south, one such
issue is unfolding in Iran's nuclear centrifuges," the article reads.
"America is racing to develop every diplomatic pressure point it can on
Iran, lest Israel launch a preemptive attack and embroil America in a
third Middle East war in ten years. One of those pressure points goes
straight through Armenia. While the US has cut off formal relations
with Iran-Washington talks through Switzerland's embassy there-it's
no secret that it employs a variety of foreign policy crowbars to
influence and destabilize Iran's ruling regime. Some, like President
Obama's latest round of economic sanctions, are well known.
Partnering with Armenia is not, but could have a major impact. Through
economic and diplomatic incentives, the U.S. is actively trying to
shape Armenia into an ally. As President Obama seeks to economically
isolate Iran-his sanctions have cut the value of Iran currency in
half-he is trying to regionally isolate the regime, as well. Armenia
is key to that strategy.
For Armenia, the game is far less simple. Partnering with the U.S.-with
whom it has a good, but not great, relationship-could alienate
the few friends Armenia has left in the South Caucasus region. It
wants military cooperation with Russia, but economic access to the
west. While it has tried to deepen relations with the European Union
and the U.S., Armenia's two best friends at the moment are arguably
the U.S.'s most challenging adversaries: Russia and Iran.
That's not necessarily because of shared ideologies, or even shared
interests; it's because Armenia doesn't have many friends to pick
from. Of its four neighbors, two-Turkey and Azerbaijan- have closed
off their borders to Armenia," Mr. Gaynor writes, according to
stratrisks.com.