Moscow: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday highlighted actions taken by President Donald Trump shortly after his inauguration as indicative of the strategies he will employ to further US interests. Lavrov shared his insights during a joint news conference in Moscow following discussions with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.
According to Anadolu Agency, Lavrov remarked that many political analysts are scrutinizing President Trump's recent decisions, which he believes clearly signify the methods Trump and his administration will use to assert US dominance on the global stage. On Trump's first day in office, he signed numerous executive orders, including initiatives to withdraw from the WHO and Paris climate agreement, pardon individuals involved in the US Capitol attack four years ago, and declare a national emergency at the US-Mexico border. Trump also hinted at imposing a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico.
Lavrov noted that Washington's global interests remain consistent, aiming to maintain superiority over any competitor, regardless of the administration in power. He also mentioned potential talks between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that both leaders have expressed a willingness to meet.
In his discussions with Mirzoyan, Lavrov emphasized the depth of their negotiations on Russian-Armenian relations, reaffirming Russia's commitment to agreements with Armenia across various spheres, including military-political domains. Lavrov stressed the importance of bilateral relations remaining unaffected by external influences that might not favor the strengthening of the Russian-Armenian alliance.
Lavrov and Mirzoyan reached mutually agreeable resolutions on several issues. Lavrov reiterated Russia's readiness to facilitate the normalization of ties between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including support for developing a peace treaty currently under discussion by both nations. Mirzoyan emphasized the enduring alliance between Russia and Armenia and clarified that there are no set deadlines or specific mechanisms concerning Armenia's EU membership application process.
Earlier this month, the Armenian government approved a draft law to initiate the country's EU membership application, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stating that the final decision will be made through a national referendum.