Russian legislators view  the  Charter between Yerevan and Washington  as a threat to Russian interests in the South Caucasus 

ArmInfo. The signed agreement on cooperation between Armenia and the United States, along with the ambitious plans of the re-elected US president to expand his  country's influence, indicate that Donald Trump may become one of  Russia's most serious opponents, as noted by Viktor Sobolev, a member  of the State Duma Defense Committee.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and US Secretary of State  Anthony Blinken have signed a Strategic Partnership charter. They  also announced the beginning of negotiations on a nuclear cooperation  agreement. Blinken emphasized that the charter signing enhances and  broadens the scope of bilateral cooperation ambitions. Mirzoyan  pointed out that Armenia and the United States have reached a  significant level of partnership crucial in the current complex  international situation. He also confirmed the initiation of talks on  nuclear cooperation.  Sobolev called this situation extremely  dangerous for Russia's interests in the Transcaucasus, stating that  such agreements contradict Moscow's geopolitical interests.

"Of course, this threatens Russia's interests in the Caucasus. After  all, Trump is now in power in the United States, not the limping and  falling Biden. This is a man who wants to make America great again.  And we don't need this greatness at all. The fact that he has become  involved in Armenia is the first sign that he will definitely be our  enemy, and perhaps the most serious one. Of course, there is a risk  of Armenia becoming anti-Russia, if they have already reached such an  agreement. By the way, Blinken and the new Secretary of State do not  seem to disagree much on Ukraine, so we should let go of any hopes we  had for Trump. Trump even mentioned that Canada is part of the United  States, Greenland is a given, and this is very concerning.  He is  essentially trying to create an empire, which goes against  our  national interests. It is likely that NATO bases will be deployed in  Armenia, leading to our troops being forced out. Our military bases  are located  in Gyumri and in Yerevan. This is very serious.  Strengthening the entire southern direction will be necessary," he  told NSN. 

In an interview with Gazeta.Ru, Konstantin Zatulin, a State Duma  deputy and First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Commonwealth of  Independent States (CIS) Affairs, noted that the Armenian  leadership's shift to the West has been ongoing for quite some time.  However, this shift has become particulatly noticeable in the past  year or two.  "The current Armenian government motivates its turn to  the West by its own defeat in 2020 Karabakh war.  Pashinyan accuses  the Russian leadership of failing to provide support to Yerevan  during that time ultimately leading to Armenia's loss of Karabakh.  This rhetoric shifts responsibility from the Prime Minister to a  third party," the deputy said.  He emphasized  that "Armenia is not  the only country in the South Caucasus that was offered to sign such  a document." "Previously, the same agreement was in effect between  the United States and Georgia until Washington canceled it due to  dissatisfaction with the Georgian authorities," the parliamentarian  said.  Zatulin recalled that a similar situation had already occurred  in bilateral relations between Russia and Armenia after the First  World War, when the Ottoman and Russian empires collapsed. "Local  Armenian authorities truly desired independence and sought protection  from the Entente countries and the United States. However, no help  followed then either," he concluded.