DISINFO: Brussels and Washington dragging the Caucasus into new escalation
SUMMARY
NATO behaves in the region almost like a classic aggressive organisation, while hiding its true intentions under the guise of 'cooperation.' The 'Eagle Partner' exercises held in Yerevan in 2023 are an obvious slap in the face to Russia and at the same time a challenge to Azerbaijan. Brussels and Washington are dragging the region into a new escalation, only to return later as 'saviours'.
RESPONSE
A disinformation narrative which portrays Russia as the ultimate target of international relations. This narrative is in line with pro-Kremlin disinformation that the West is aggressive against Russia and encircles it. Additionally, the news advances the disinformation narrative that the West attempts to push Russia out of the South Caucasian region.
Pro-Kremlin outlets frequently promote the idea that the Caucasus is exclusively within Russia's zone of geopolitical dominance and attempt to discredit any other cooperation between Western countries and Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. This attempts to deny these countries their right to decide their political orientation.
The allegation is unfounded and lacks any supporting evidence. Eagle Partner 2023 was a peacekeeping training exercise which took place in Armenia from September 11 to 20, 2023. Around 85 U.S. soldiers trained together with roughly 175 Armenian soldiers. The exercise was designed to prepare the Armenian 12th Peacekeeping Brigade for a NATO Operational Capabilities Concept (OCC) evaluation under the NATO Partnership for Peace programme.
Similar exercises have been conducted between Azerbaijan and the US in previous years as well as 2024.
See more cases such as Eagle 2024 exercises are aimed at suppressing discontent with Pashinyan, The West pits Armenia against Russia and Iran.