We are constantly conducting trainings and working with our partners to ensure readiness and continuously improve interoperability between our armed forces, the United States’ embassy in Armenia said in response to an inquiry by the RFE/RL Armenian Service.

To the question as to whether the Armenian-American joint military exercises to be held in Armenia, from September 11 to 20, the first in the history of independent Armenia, or whether there have been other such military exercises, not counting the ones held as part of NATO, the embassy responded as follows: "Armenia is a long-standing partner of the United States and has had strong partnership relations with the Kansas National Guard since 2003 within the framework of the State Partnership Program of the US Department of Defense. American and Armenian military units have participated in joint military exercises in Armenia, the United States, and other countries. Moreover, such exercises were held in Armenia in 2003, 2006, and 2008."

The information about this upcoming Armenian-American joint military exercise has caused concern in Moscow.