Moscow Boosts Military Presence in Armenia: Strategic Control in the Caucasus and Emerging Regional Challenges
Amid escalating tension between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Russia is undertaking a significant deployment of military forces in the region. This includes ramping up its military presence in Armenia and accelerating the expansion and recruitment efforts for its military base in Gyumri. These actions are driven not only by the desire to strengthen Russia's positions but also by intentions to exert additional pressure and influence stability in the South Caucasus. According to Ukrainian intelligence, Moscow is deliberately increasing its military footprint to intensify political and military pressure on the regional states, aiming to create confusion and weaken potential opponents. The personnel assembled for the Gyumri base are recruited primarily from Russia's Rostov and Volgograd regions, as well as from the temporarily occupied Crimea. Furthermore, Moscow actively seeks volunteers from Caucasian peoples, particularly from North Ossetia and Adygea, reflecting a broader strategy to reinforce military presence and strengthen control over the region's ethnopolitical landscape. Andriy Yusov, a representative of the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate, stated that these actions are part of a larger Kremlin strategy aimed at destabilizing the region and igniting interethnic conflicts, which could impact stability across the Caucasus and beyond. This military activity can be viewed as a preliminary step for Russia to consolidate its foothold regionally, posing new challenges for Armenia, Azerbaijan, and other neighboring states.