Author: Emil Lazarian

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he is considering reducing the number of American forces in Germany, amid a spat with Germany’s chancellor and the NATO alliance over Iran. 

“The United States is studying and reviewing the possible reduction of Troops in Germany, with a determination to be made over the next short period of time,” Trump said on Truth Social. 

The U.S. military has a massive presence in Germany that dates back to the aftermath of World War II and the Cold War.

More than 36,000 active duty troops were assigned to bases throughout Germany as of last December, along with nearly 1,500 reservists and 11,500 civilians, CBS News reported citing official data.

Germany is also home to the headquarters of U.S. European Command and Africa Command, and its Ramstein Air Base is a key hub for U.S. operations.

Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with the U.S.’s allies in Europe, which have sought to keep their distance from the U.S.-Iran war. He has threatened to leave NATO, calling the alliance a “paper tiger” for not entering the war.

A 2023 law prevents the president from withdrawing the U.S. from NATO without approval from Congress, according to CBS News.

Meanwhile, Europe is grappling with higher energy prices as the Iran conflict severely constrains oil exports from the Middle East.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz appeared to draw Mr. Trump’s ire after he criticized the U.S.’s handling of the war earlier this week, saying “the Americans clearly have no strategy” on Iran and suggesting the U.S. is being “humiliated” by Iranian negotiators.

Trump wrote on social media that Merz “thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon” and “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” 

“No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise!” the president said.

Hours before Trump floated troop reductions, Merz told reporters he still is on good terms with the U.S. president, despite their well-publicized disagreements over Iran strategy.

Armbrok press release 

On April 29, a significant event for Armenia’s investment sector took place in Yerevan: the investment company “Armbrok,” with over 30 years of history, introduced its new brand – ROQ Capital. The official rebranding event was attended by around 300 partners, clients and guests.

Over the years, “Armbrok” has built a reputation as a reliable and long-term partner, established a stable client base and secured a leading position in Armenia’s securities market. This experience and accumulated professional capital have become the solid foundation upon which the company’s next phase of development and major transformation has been built.

In a rapidly changing world, this decision was a natural one, as financial markets are becoming more flexible, more technological and more open, while a new investment culture is emerging and  “Armbrok” simply could not remain behind these trends.

It is important to emphasize that the company has chosen not merely to follow these changes, but to shape them.

At the core of this transformation lies a simple idea: to become a more modern, more accessible and more global partner for our clients.

The company now operates under a new brand: ROQ Capital, which symbolizes strength, stability and new opportunities for capital growth.

As part of the rebranding, the company’s core color identity has been preserved: red remains the primary brand color, while the bull, symbolizing market growth and dynamics, continues to appear in the visual identity. At the same time, the brand’s visual language has become more modern, dynamic, and aligned with international markets.

As part of the rebranding, changes have also taken place within the group: Armbrok’s subsidiary, “Glocal” Closed Joint-Stock Company, has also been renamed ROQ Funds and will continue to carry out fund management activities, developing the group’s asset management direction.

Alongside the rebranding, ROQ Capital has also introduced several important updates:

• New official website  The company has launched a new, modern website: roqcapital.am, where its services, market opportunities, and industry updates are presented.

• New investment application  A modern ROQ Markets application will soon be launched, enabling users to open an investment account quickly, in just a few minutes, and gain direct access to international financial markets. The application is equipped with innovative artificial intelligence (AI) tools that help users perform multiple actions more quickly, within a user-friendly and intuitive environment. Thanks to various integrations, users will benefit from unique advantages, including quick access to market data, optimized investment decision-making, and support from modern tools, making the investment process not only faster but also more efficient.

Under its new brand, ROQ Capital’s primary mission is to provide investment services that meet international standards and to serve as a reliable partner for both Armenian and international investors. The company continues its journey, blending extensive experience, innovation and strategic vision to create new value in the investment landscape.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia, as a founding member of the Board of Peace, should make its share of financial contributions to the international body.

Speaking at a press briefing after a Cabinet meeting where a bill on ratifying the Board of Peace Charter was approved, Pashinyan told reporters that it does not envisage financial obligations for the country and is based on a voluntary principle.

“We should contribute to the extent we can. Armenia has no obligations, but I believe we should participate—and we will participate,” the prime minister said.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed the Board of Peace Charter alongside other world leaders in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22.

Pashinyan was invited to sign the charter as a founding member by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The bill on ratifying the Board of Peace Charter will now be sent to parliament. 

Armenia’s Ambassador to Belgium and representative to the EU, Tigran Balayan, has thanked the European Parliament for adopting a resolution in support of Armenia’s democratic resilience.

Balayan expressed his gratitude in a post on the social media platform X.

“Grateful to MEPs for adopting this timely resolution ahead of the EPC and EU–Armenia summits in Yerevan. A strong signal of support by European Parliament for Armenia’s democratic resilience and our shared commitment to deeper partnership,” he wrote.

At a plenary session of the European Parliament on April 30, a resolution on Armenia was adopted, reaffirming EU support for Armenia’s democratic development, the peace process and reforms aimed at European integration.

The resolution was supported by 476 Members of the European Parliament, with 47 voting against and 48 abstaining.

The 8th European Political Community Summit and the first-ever EU–Armenia summit, to be held next week in Yerevan, are highly important in terms of boosting the country’s international standing, improving the security environment, and deepening ties with the EU, according to the head of a prominent educational organization.

In an interview with Armenpress, For Equal Rights Educational Center President and former lawmaker Gayane Abrahamyan said the importance for Armenia is not limited to the upcoming event but is of a continuous nature, starting from the first European Political Community summit.

“Since the very first summit in 2022, when the Prague agreements were adopted and it was decided to deploy the European Union monitoring mission in Armenia, this format has consistently emphasized cooperation with Armenia and support, particularly in the security sphere,” Abrahamyan said.

She noted that the European Political Community format, which includes both EU member states and partner countries, has at various stages contributed to strengthening Armenia’s security, including through practical decisions. In this context, the summit to be held in Yerevan has particular significance as it is taking place in Armenia.

Abrahamyan stressed that holding the event in Yerevan also sends an important political and security message.

“Even taking into account regional tensions, including the wartime situation around Iran, the fact that the summit is being held in Armenia shows that the European Union considers Armenia a reliable partner and a secure country,” she said.

According to her, the event also serves as an indirect signal to the international community and business circles.

“When one of the important EU summits is held in Armenia, it is in itself a message that Armenia is a partner country where investments can also be made. This is part of the process of increasing Armenia’s visibility and becoming an important actor on the map,” Abrahamyan said.

The expert said the summit will contribute to enhancing Armenia’s international reputation.

She added that this impact is further emphasized by the fact that the first EU–Armenia summit will be held alongside the EPC summit, with the participation of European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

“This is extremely high-level participation, which increases Armenia’s role in the region. It is also a political message that Armenia is seen as an important anchor for the European Union,” she said.

Speaking about expectations regarding peace and security in the South Caucasus, Abrahamyan said it is important to consider possible EU involvement in the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process.

“Although the current format is primarily bilateral negotiations, the European Union can play an important role both politically and financially,” she said.

She added that EU involvement could create additional security guarantees and contribute to the stability of the peace process.

“American mediation alone is not sufficient, and in this regard, EU participation can raise the level of security and strengthen the process,” Abrahamyan said.

Speaking about economic and investment opportunities, she stressed that the summit agenda prioritizes energy, transport, and digital connectivity.

“These are the main areas where discussions are planned in the context of peace, security, and connectivity development in Armenia,” she said.

Armenia’s Minister of High-Tech Industry, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, has published an article in the international magazine Forbes. The minister announced the publication on his social media page.

The article, titled “Why Small Can Be Mighty In The AI Era,” explores the impact of artificial intelligence on the global redistribution of power.

In a Facebook post, Hayrapetyan said that while economic influence was once determined by natural resources, capital and industrial scale, artificial intelligence is now reshaping that balance.