Armenian Military Leaders Engage in Productive Bilateral Talks with U.S. European Command

In a significant step towards strengthening international defense partnerships, a high-level delegation of Armenian military officials led by Chief of the General Staff of the Republic of Armenia Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. Edvard Asryan, met with U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven Basham, the U.S. European Command deputy commander, at EUCOM’s headquarters on November 3.

The discussions during the bilateral meeting primarily revolved around Armenia's security environment, ongoing defense reforms, and the defense cooperation between Armenia and the United States. Hosted by Lt. Gen. Basham, the meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to exchange insights and expertise on various military strategies and challenges.

"We were honored to host Lt. Gen. Asryan and his team. We learned a lot from one another," remarked Lt. Gen. Basham. "This was a milestone event as we deliberately and incrementally develop our defense relationship."

The Armenian delegation's visit to Germany commenced with a tour of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, where they observed training activities, gaining valuable insights into modern military training methodologies. Additionally, they held discussions with the Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, focusing on enhancing the capabilities of the Armenian military’s NCO corps.

Lt. Gen. Asryan emphasized the importance of international collaboration in the midst of significant reforms within the Armenian armed forces. "Armenian armed forces are currently undergoing significant reforms and transformation, and we are interested in receiving support and learning about the best practices from our partners, especially the United States," stated Asryan. "These discussions lay the foundation to plan and conduct future combined training with U.S. European Command as we aim to advance our military’s ability to respond to changes in a dynamic and complex environment."

The meeting shows the commitment of both countries to fostering cooperation, sharing expertise, and fostering mutual understanding in the realm of defense and security. The engagement between Armenian military leaders and U.S. European Command marks a positive step forward in international collaboration, emphasizing the shared goal of promoting peace and stability in the region.