Top Blinken deputy arrives in Armenia for 3-day visit

Senior US diplomat Richard Verma arrived Monday in Armenia's capital Yerevan to participate in the US-Armenia Local Government Forum on Democracy.

"Great to be in Armenia to advance key objectives in the U.S.-Armenia partnership to work towards a better future for our countries," Verma, who serves as the US first deputy secretary of state for management and resources, wrote on X.

The official is heading a large delegation of state and local officials representing several US states, and is also accompanied by Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy Nina Hachigian, who leads the new subnational diplomacy team at the State Department, and Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs Sarah Morgenthau.

Verma and the members of his delegation plan to meet with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan during their visit, which ends on Wednesday.