US Vice President J.D. Vance`s visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia  clearly demonstrates USA`s ` new regional strategy - expert 

ArmInfo. US Vice President J.D. Vance's visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia clearly demonstrates the United Staes' new regional strategy. Suren Sureniants, leader of the Democratic Alternative party, wrote this on his Facebook page.

"The US Vice President will launch his regional tour with a visit to  Yerevan, the next destination of which will be Baku. While our  pro-Western activists are creating optimistic myths about this visit  and the supposed 'salvation' of Armenia, alarming statements are  coming from Washington," Sureniants wrote.

The politician drew attention to the points made by American analyst,  former US State Department official, and author of the blog "Window  to Eurasia" Paul Goble in an interview with host Joan Lissowski on  February 4, 2026, on the English-language channel Osmanqizi Englis.  According to Sureniants, this interview provides an important  commentary on the political and strategic significance of Vance's  visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia.

According to Goble, Azerbaijan is a key partner for the United  States, viewed as an independent regional power that has effectively  escaped Russia's control. "Discussions with Baku focus on several  strategic areas simultaneously: the Iranian factor, where Azerbaijan  can act as a deterrent and information partner; the Syunik route to  Armenia; and limiting China's influence, particularly through the  Trans-Caspian infrastructure," Sureniants noted.

So, in the context of Goble's logic, Azerbaijan is not a state under  pressure for Washington, but rather a partner for building  transactional and long-term relationships. Meanwhile, Armenia's role  during the visit, according to Sureniants, is considered secondary.  "J.D. Vance's arrival in Yerevan serves as a political signal that  the United States does not intend to abandon Armenia's agenda, which  is especially important given the upcoming parliamentary elections.  The visit also serves as a safety net aimed at maintaining domestic  stability and further weakening Russian influence. Thus, according to  the American analyst, Vance's visit to Yerevan represents support for  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's team ahead of the parliamentary  elections scheduled for June 2026," the party leader explained.

One of the most striking conclusions of the interview, according to  Sureryants, was the assertion that the war in Ukraine has  significantly weakened Russia's real leverage in the South Caucasus.  According to the American analyst, Moscow may attempt to intervene  through information or domestic political channels, but it lacks the  resources to control regional processes.

Yerevan, February 9, 2026. ArmInfo, Aline Grigoryan. US Vice  President J.D. Vance's visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia clearly  demonstrates the United States' new regional strategy. Suren  Sureniants, leader of the Democratic Alternative party, wrote this on  his Facebook page.

"The US Vice President will launch his regional tour with a visit to  Yerevan, the next destination of which will be Baku. While our  pro-Western activists are creating optimistic myths about this visit  and the supposed 'salvation' of Armenia, alarming statements are  coming from Washington," Sureniants wrote.

The politician drew attention to the points made by American analyst,  former US State Department official, and author of the blog "Window  to Eurasia" Paul Goble in an interview with host Joan Lissowski on  February 4, 2026, on the English-language channel Osmanqizi Englis.  According to Sureniants, this interview provides an important  commentary on the political and strategic significance of Vance's  visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia.

According to Goble, Azerbaijan is a key partner for the United  States, viewed as an independent regional power that has effectively  escaped Russia's control. "Discussions with Baku focus on several  strategic areas simultaneously: the Iranian factor, where Azerbaijan  can act as a deterrent and information partner; the Syunik route to  Armenia; and limiting China's influence, particularly through the  Trans-Caspian infrastructure," Sureniants noted.

So, in the context of Goble's logic, Azerbaijan is not a state under  pressure for Washington, but rather a partner for building  transactional and long-term relationships. Meanwhile, Armenia's role  during the visit, according to Sureniants, is considered secondary.  "J.D. Vance's arrival in Yerevan serves as a political signal that  the United States does not intend to abandon Armenia's agenda, which  is especially important given the upcoming parliamentary elections.  The visit also serves as a safety net aimed at maintaining domestic  stability and further weakening Russian influence. Thus, according to  the American analyst, Vance's visit to Yerevan represents support for  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's team ahead of the parliamentary  elections scheduled for June 2026," the party leader explained.

One of the most striking conclusions of the interview, according to  Sureryants, was the assertion that the war in Ukraine has  significantly weakened Russia's real leverage in the South Caucasus.  According to the American analyst, Moscow may attempt to intervene  through information or domestic political channels, but it lacks the  resources to control regional processes.