Armenia

Yerevan has officially recognised a Palestinian state, the Armenian foreign ministry has announced, the latest country to do so despite opposition from Israel.

Yerevan will leave a Moscow-led security bloc, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed on Wednesday for the first time, accusing members of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation of having planned a war against his country with Azerbaijan.

The United States and Armenia have announced that they intend to elevate bilateral relations to the level of “strategic partnership”, with Washington helping Yerevan with trade and military matters.

Armenia should work with Turkey and Azerbaijan to build peace instead of looking to the West for weapons and training, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, in thinly veiled criticism of the US and France.

Moscow told Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Monday that he had only to blame himself for Baku's victory over Nagorno-Karabakh because he had insisted on flirting with the West rather than working with Russia and Azerbaijan for peace.

US soldiers will complete a joint military exercise with Armenian forces in the Caucasus state on Wednesday as planned, and the drill was not affected by the launch of a major military operation by neighbouring Azerbaijan, according to a US military spokesperson.

Yerevan should distance itself from Moscow and try to get closer to the West, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with Politico.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have exchanged views on the situation in the South Caucasus and agreed to continue diplomatic efforts to reach lasting peace in the region, the press service of the Armenian government announced after their phone call.

Armenia has launched a joint military drill with the United States, a move that has angered the Caucasus nation's main ally, Russia.