According to a report released earlier this year by a German-government-financed think tank, the Bonn International Center for Conversion, Armenia ranks third as the world’s most militarized country relative to population and size of economy. While U.S. taxpayers’ money is wasted, Armenia’s government, which hosts thousands of Russian troops in its several military bases, is free to spend more on militarization. In fact, the center’s 2014 Global Militarization Index shows that Armenia is the European continent’s most militarized nation. Who is it militarizing itself against? Armenia has 179 soldiers and paramilitaries per 10,000 inhabitants, more than any of its neighbors. Even Russia, with an economy and population that dwarfs Armenia, finished in fifth place — after Syria, which is fourth.

This needs to stop: the U.S. government should not waste taxpayer money by helping an already aggressive nation like Armenia to arm itself more. Armenia should be getting much less in aid, and no military aid at all.

Washington, D.C.