Pelosi's Armenia visit against American interests: Analyst

ANKARA

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Armenia visit is "against the interests" of Washington, a foreign policy and security analyst told Anadolu Agency on Saturday.

The main reason for Pelosi's appearance nearby Armenia, which is under the control of Russia and hosts Russian bases, is "to protect the interests of the Armenian lobby in America, which is actually against the interests of America," Omer Ozkizilcik said.

"Pelosi's visit to Armenia may even strengthen Azerbaijan's hand because the Russian administration will not be satisfied with the arrival of her to Armenia," Ozkizilcik said, noting that if Russia removes its protection on Armenia, it would make Azerbaijan's superiority over Yerevan "stronger."

"I think that this visit, which will be made to protect the interests of Armenia, would backfire and serve neither the American interest nor the Armenian interest, given the fact that Russia is dominant over Armenia," he added.

Asked why the visit would conflict with American interests, the analyst said it contradicts its stance to support a country that is under the control of Russia while the Ukraine war is going on.

Ozkizilcik also stressed the importance of Azerbaijan as a country moving toward the West and an alternative route to Russian gas and power cuts with the Turkmenistan gas project, saying: "While these are present, the fact that the United States pushes Azerbaijan to side with Armenia is not in the interests of the country in terms of economic, geopolitical, or energy policy."

On the possible outcome of the visit, the analyst said "it will not cause much change in the field," adding that the US does not have "a serious influence on Armenia" since "the main actor is Russia."

Pelosi officially announced her delegation's visit to Armenia on Saturday in a statement where they will have "productive meetings to strengthen our partnership with the Republic of Armenia."

The house speaker will be the highest-ranking US official to visit Armenia since the country achieved its independence.

"Our Congressional delegation’s visit to Armenia is a powerful symbol of the United States’ firm commitment to a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Armenia, and a stable and secure Caucasus region," she said.

Her visit comes after Azerbaijan and Armenia reached a cease-fire on Wednesday following the border clashes.

The recent fighting claimed lives on both sides with Azerbaijan reporting 77 soldiers killed and two civilians wounded. Armenia said 135 of its soldiers were killed and six civilians were wounded.

Relations between the former Soviet republics have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.