ArmInfo. Washington realizes the degree of influence of American policy towards Iran on neighboring Armenia, similarly, the situation with our policy in relation to the strategic partner of Armenia, Russia. A leading senior fellow in Carnegie's Russia and Eurasia Program Paul Stronski expressed this opinion to ArmInfo.
"At the same time, I should note the absence in the eyes of the United States of the strategic importance of the Caucasus as a separate region. The Caucasus is interesting and important for the United States solely in light of its interconnection with other problems that concern us. The most obvious evidence is the absence of the South Caucasus in the national security strategy presented by the Trump administration USA. And this is a potential problem for Armenia, "he stressed.
Stronski recalled that, unlike the Trump administration, the previous administrations of Barack Obama and even George W. Bush tried to develop a sufficiently developed relationship between Yerevan and Tehran. The expert explains this is not comparable with the position of predecessors, the personal concern of Donald Trump and his adviser John Bolton international activities of Iran. In his opinion, the consistently stricter position of Washington on Iran can lead to problems in the Armenian-American relations.
At the same time, Stronski assumes that the United States, if desired, is fully capable of separating the Iranian problem from relations with Armenia. Especially, taking into account the successes of Yerevan on the way of democratic construction and reforms in the country, the potential and new opportunities for American investors in Armenia. In this light, the expert sees the need for joint work of American and Armenian politicians in the direction of resolving this problem. In conclusion, Stronski expressed the hope that Trump and his national security adviser Bolton would not change Washington's traditional attitude towards Armenian-American relations; first of all, due to the rather complex and difficult geopolitical and geographical position of Armenia.