Biden Administration falters where Trump succeeded, claims Pashinyan

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has responded to remarks made by former US official James O'Brien about the Armenian-Azerbaijani agreements signed in Washington on August 8, 2020.

In a series of comments published on August 14 and going viral in Armenia this week, O'Brien, who served as assistant secretary of state in former US President Joe Biden's administration, expressed concern about Armenia's vulnerabilities following the agreements. He also noted the absence of a substantial peace dividend for Armenia, such as the opening of the border with Turkey or extra investments.

Pashinyan, however, remained unresponsive to what he called O'Brien's 'emotional assessments.' In a statement, the prime minister expressed his dissatisfaction with the reaction and work of the then-US administration in supporting the peace agenda in the region. He suggested that O'Brien's loss of his high-ranking position might be due to a lack of skills to notice geopolitical, regional, and political nuances.

The Washington agreements resulted in the initialling of the peace treaty and the agreement to establish the Trump Corridor for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). Trump called Pashinyan 'a great leader' in a note accompanying the photos he gifted to the prime minister.

O'Brien's comments come as he expressed concern about Armenia's vulnerability and potential intervention by Moscow or Baku. He also suggested that the Armenian election campaign in 2026 might be dominated by the prospect of a coerced constitutional change.

Pashinyan, on the other hand, stated that Armenia is currently in the least vulnerable state of its modern independent history. He claimed that Armenia was most vulnerable during the Biden administration's tenure. Trump's involvement was considered a key factor in securing the agreements, according to O'Brien.

Despite O'Brien's criticism, the Armenia-Azerbaijan agreements marked a significant step towards peace in the region. The agreements aimed to establish a corridor connecting different parts of Azerbaijan, and while the peace dividend may not have been as substantial as some had hoped, the agreements represent a hope for a more secure and prosperous future for both nations.