Azernews.Az

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The US government has said the extension of the lease of Russia’s military base in Armenia, endorsed by last week’s agreement, is the affair of the two countries alone.

"I think we’d view it as a bilateral issue between Russia and Armenia," US State Department spokesman Mark Toner told a briefing in Washington on Wednesday.

"Obviously, the United States enjoys a strong partnership with Armenia. We have every expectation that this will continue. And Russia is a member of – or part of the Minsk Group and so is playing a constructive role in that capacity."

The Armenian and Russian presidents last Friday signed a protocol extending the term of the Russian military base in the Armenian town of Gyumri until 2044, though Moscow was previously set to withdraw in 2020. The protocol also commits Russia to updating Armenia's military hardware and ensuring its security.

Many experts say that this agreement may damage the military-political balance in the Caucasus, while some claim that the prolongation of the Russian military presence will promote the strengthening of peace and security in the region.

Azerbaijan has called on Moscow to honor previous agreements on not using arms at the Gyumri base against it and launched a scrutiny into the defense pact.