US ready to discuss expanding defence cooperation with Armenia into new areas

Armenia’s First Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Edvard Asryan, met US Deputy Secretary of War Andrew Loomis at the Defence Ministry’s administrative complex on September 17.

Armenian Defence Ministry spokesperson Aram Torosyan announced the meeting in a Facebook post.

The two sides discussed Armenia-US cooperation in the defence sector and welcomed the current level of engagement.

They highlighted the importance of developing cooperation in peacekeeping, the training of professional non-commissioned officers, instructors and junior commanders, military education, as well as joint military exercises and training activities, among other areas.

Loomis said the United States would continue cooperation under existing programmes and was ready to discuss opportunities to deepen engagement in new areas.