DISINFO: The EU mission in Armenia is turning into a NATO mission
SUMMARY
The EU mission in Armenia is turning into a NATO mission. Now troops from Norway, Canada, and the United States are being sent there, turning the EU mission into a North Atlantic Alliance mission. In 2021, the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, invited a European Union peacekeeping mission to Armenia instead of the CSTO mission, assuring Azerbaijan that it would last only two months. And two months later, ignoring Azerbaijan, the European Union doubled this mission.
RESPONSE
Recurring disinformation narrative by pro-Kremlin outlets attempting to discredit the EU mission in Armenia linking it with NATO.
The EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) is a civilian mission that observes and reports on the security situation on the ground, contributes to the security of the people in conflict-affected areas in Armenia, and builds confidence on the ground. Through its presence, EUMA also contributes to ensuring an environment conducive to the normalisation efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan supported by the EU. It has no links to NATO or troops from its member countries.
From the very beginning, this exclusively civilian mission has been fully transparent about its plans to operate from six hubs.
The mission was launched in Armenia in response to a request by Armenia. EUMA conducts routine patrolling and reports on the situation, which strengthens the EU’s understanding of the situation on the ground.
The decision to deploy the EU monitors on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan was made after the September 2022 escalation. The EU has called for and helped a normalisation process. The EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA) represents a new phase in the EU’s engagement in the South Caucasus.
Canada is one of the EU’s official Strategic Partners. The Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between Canada and the EU provides for regular bilateral dialogues in areas such as security and defence, development, etc.
Canada is following the situation on the ground in Armenia and is committed to working with allies to help uphold peace and stability in the region. Canada has been accepted by the EU as a third-party contributor to the mission.
Third States have participated in civilian CSDP missions since 2003, when the first civilian CSDP mission, the EU Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was initiated.
See our article examining pro-Kremlin claims during the first year of EUMA.
See similar cases in our database: EU observers in Armenia are employees of Western intelligence services; The presence of the EU Mission in Armenia opens the possibility for the deployment of NATO troops in the Caucasus; EU mission in Armenia contributes to the spread of Azerbaijanophobia; EU mission is a NATO intelligence structure in Armenia.