The Kremlin has voiced its concerns regarding Armenia’s decision to host a joint military exercise with the United States next week, believing it will only destabilize the region.

Armenia’s Defense Ministry says the Eagle Partner 2023 exercise will improve the readiness of is international peacekeeper missions.

Aljazeera, quoting a U.S. military spokesperson, writes 85 American soldiers, including members of the Kansas National Guard, and 175 Armenians will take part.

TASS reports that Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said such drills between Armenia and the U.S. do not contribute to regional security.

"Russia continues to fulfill its functions as a guarantor of security, Russia continues very attentive, scrupulous work, consistent, constructive work both with Yerevan and Baku," Peskov stated.

Peskov’s remarks follow Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan’s comments in a weekend interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica that Russia had failed to protect Armenia against continuing Azerbaijani aggression.

In January, Armenia backed out of hosting military drills of the Russian-backed Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), arguing that they would be “inappropriate” given the continued closure of the Lachin Corridor.