Armenia has always been interested in the expansion and strengthening of the Russian military base, Defense Minister

Armenian Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan has given an extensive interview to RIA Novosti, in which he discussed the ongoing reforms in the army, the interest in the expansion of the military base in Gyumri, and relocating part of it to the eastern regions of the country.

In response to a question regarding the military base, Vagharshak Harutyunyan noted that the issue of expanding and strengthening the Russian military base on the territory of the Republic of Armenia has always been on the agenda, and the Armenian side has always been interested in it for the simple reason that the base is fully included in the joint armed forces grouping of Armenia and Russia. This means that the expansion of the base's capabilities will correspondingly increase the potential of the joint military grouping that operates on a bilateral basis in the Caucasus region.

Of course, the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense has taken into account the existing geopolitical realities in the region and has taken appropriate steps regarding the strengthening and re-equipping of the military base, and I am confident that this process will have a long-term nature.

As for the deployment of additional military formations of the Russian Armed Forces on the territory of the Republic, I believe that there is not much need for that, and furthermore, at this moment, the normative legal framework that exists between our states only defines the status of one Russian military base and regulates only its operations. It is perhaps more accurate to discuss the possibility of reallocating any military formations from the Russian military base (considering its expansion) towards the eastern direction of Armenia, and in this context, appropriate joint developments on the issue are underway.