and two military bases — including one just outside the
Armenian capital. Most significant, Armenia is the only country in the
region that shares a border with Turkey and has Russian troops
permanently stationed. Although Armenia has welcomed thousands of
Russian troops and advanced weaponry, these developments seemed to have
escaped the notice of U.S. officials, who were settling in for the
holidays while Russia and Armenia signed a sweeping air defense
agreement two days before Christmas. It’s time for Washington to assess
who our real allies in the region are. Andrew Bowen, Washington: The
writer is senior fellow at the Center for the National Interest.

The
Caucasus Mountains that run between the Black and Caspian Seas could
soon turn into a nuclear flash point because of dangerous saber-rattling
by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. Armenia has illegally claimed territory in westernmade more than a dozen similar statements.

Azerbaijan has more than twice as many people as Armenia
yet its Gross Domestic Product is nearly seven times greater. While
Armenians have watched their leaders diminish their economy, Azerbaijan has prospered. Much like North Korea, military posturing is all Armenia has left. This is a dangerous time for Azerbaijan and the entire region because of Armenia’s
reckless pursuit of offensive weapons and incendiary rhetoric.
Azerbaijanis at home and in the United States have depended on America
as a good friend and strong ally. The world can only hope that that will
continue under the new Trump administration.

•
Lloyd Green is a former staff secretary to the George H.W. Bush
campaign’s Middle East Policy Group in 1988 and served in the Department
of Justice between 1990 and 1992.

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