Keeping good relations with the USA as a superpower is currently one of the most important political priorities for each state. Armenia is not an exception. As it is well-known, the interest in politics should be based on the principle of reciprocity. Thus, when building relations, the US takes into account the role and the importance of the region and more specifically Armenia for itself.
Especially, when we have to deal with such a pragmatic businessman as Donald Trump, to whom “America First” slogan is not just a simple slogan. Under this concept Trump has decided to decrease the US aid to other countries in 50%. It’s noteworthy that since its independence, Armenia has received $2 billion as a US foreign aid.
However, the situation has changed not only in Armenia, but also in the USA. The latter is no longer prone to giving unilateral assistance and puts a more emphasis on the reciprocal cooperation. Yes, though after 2018 revolution the US increased the financial assistance to Armenia for $14million, that was more of a political gesture directed to the assistance of democratic processes and shared values. On May 7, 2019, the first session of the Armenian-American Strategic Dialogue took place and the level of relations were slightly raised. The US delegation was led by State deputy assistant of the US Secretary of State.
It is accepted that by this the level of political relations was raised and it is a very positive move for Armenia but it is important to take into account that USA has brought more significant issues to the agenda of our bilateral relations . Armenia would hardly put political issue in front of America because it doesn’t have such. Generally, it is not difficult to guess why the level of US-Armenian strategic dialogue is rising and what kind of issues are going to be brought about. Last year US President’s National Security Advisor John Bolton visited South Caucasus meeting with the leaders of three states. Bolton clearly stated that Azerbaijan and Georgia are of strategic significance for the USA and Armenia is a “top priority”.
It’s not a coincidence that the visit took place in the period of intensification of US-Iranian relations. Overall, Bolton’s office is the architect of the sanctions against Iran, whereas Bolton is considered to be the ‘’Washington falcon’’ for his strict approaches in terms of the Iranian Policy. Obviously, Bolton’s visit to the region predominantly had the goal of ‘’reconnaissance’’, which aimed to identify the possibilities of tightening Iran’s circle. Undoubtedly, Russia is also an important factor, but we’ll discuss that in other publications. Anyway, the day by day deteriorating relations of two important states for Armenia, such as the USA and Iran, definitely do not correspond to Armenian interests in any way.
Undoubtedly, the escalation of US-Iran relations would have a “disastrous consequences for the region” as Russian president rightfully notices. Unfortunately, no Armenian state body has prepared a strategy, scenario or sequence of steps for the possibility of this development. Referring to US-Armenian political relations it’s necessary to note the complete absence of high level meetings. Although some Armenian officials as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Defense, Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies, Security Council Secretary had working visits to the USA, same level meetings didn’t take place with their US counterparts.
Though last year there was an attempt by the Congressional Armenian Caucus to arrange Trump-Pashinyan high level meeting, the success of the latter was suspicious from the beginning, as the active critics of Trump’s policy, such as Adam Schiff and Frank Pallone were among the initiators.
Of course, there are states, with which there are no high level political relations, but instead there are huge trade and business relations. This is also a very common international relations phenomenon. But as it is already stated, this doesn’t refer to US-Armenian relations, because among 193 states of the world, Armenia is the 170th US trade partner. Taking into account that the current US administration’s pragmatic and business oriented policy, the economic sector could become the driving force in the relations with the US, but, unfortunately, this is not happening.
Probably it is obvious that the development of relations with this political and economic superpower should be priority for Armenia, not vice versa. Ultimately, it should be realized that the US cannot always be in the position of meeting assistance giver and Armenia of the assistance consumer.
Originally published in Hraparak.am