U.S., Armenia Explore New Defense Cooperation

November 30,  2020



Armenia’s Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan (right) in a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy on Nov. 30

Opportunities to give new impetus to defense cooperation between Armenia and United States were explored during a meeting between the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia and the country’s new defense chief, Vagharsahak Harutyunyan on Monday.

Harutyunyan met with Ambassador Lynne Tracy and briefed her on the implementations of the November 9 agreement, which ended the military operations in Karabakh.

As a priority, Harutyunyan highlighted efforts on the return of prisoners of war, search for missing in action and the bodies of the dead, as well as the activities of the International Committee of Red Cross, the Russian defense ministry and the Russian peacekeeping mission in Artsakh.

The Armenian defense minister also stated that currently they are analyzing the military operations and assessing the shortcomings which can lead to structural, decision-making, strategic and legislative reforms.

The two leaders agreed that additional discussions can lead to new areas of cooperation between the U.S. and Armenia in defense and security matters.