Crisis in Caucasus

Crisis in Caucasus: On Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh

Context

The ongoing fighting between Armenian rebels and the Azerbaijani Army in Nagorno-Karabakh, a self-declared republic within Azerbaijan, risks becoming a wider regional conflict.

Ceasefire truce

Though Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to a Russia-mediated ceasefire last week after days of fighting, the truce crumbled immediately amid a blame game.
Whatever the truth is, an emboldened Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey, seems determined to press ahead with its offensive.

Nagorno-Karabakh

The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh is decades old.
The region, largely populated by ethnic Armenians, is located within the international boundaries of Azerbaijan.
Under the Soviet Union, it was an autonomous province that was part of the Azerbaijan republic.
In 1988, when the Soviet power was receding, the regional assembly in Nagorno-Karabakh voted to join Armenia, triggering ethnic clashes.
After the Soviet disintegration in 1991, Armenia and Azerbaijan went to war over this largely mountainous, forested enclave.
By the time a ceasefire was reached in 1994, the rebels, with support from Armenia and Russia, had established their de facto rule and extended their influence to the Armenian border. Ever since, the border has remained tense.

Role of Turkey in the Caucasus

What makes the clashes now far more dangerous is the external intervention.
Turkey has called Armenia a threat to peace in the region; the Azeris and Turks share ethnic and linguistic bonds.
Also, the pre-Soviet Azerbaijan was a local ally of the Ottomans when they invaded Transcaucasia in the last leg of World War I.
For Turkey, which, under President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, is trying to expand its geopolitical reach to the former Ottoman regions, the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh is an opportunity to enter the South Caucasus.

Role of Russia in the Caucasus

Turkey also has a particularly bad relationship with Armenia.
But its problem is that Armenia is a member of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
Russia enjoys good economic and defence ties with both Armenia and Azerbaijan.
But Armenia, as a CSTO member and host to a Russian military base, has more weight.
In a wider conflict, Armenia could trigger Article 4 of the CSTO treaty and ask for Russian help.
And if Moscow responds favourably, that would pit Russia against Turkey, a NATO member.
Russia, already involved in military conflicts in Syria, Ukraine and Libya, may not like opening another front.
That is why it has re-emphasised its neutrality and hosted talks in Moscow for a truce.

Way forward

But it will be forced to take sides if the conflict spills into Armenia. Both sides should understand the volatile situation and call off the hostilities.
Nagorno-Karabakh has in the past witnessed large-scale ethnic violence.
Instead of risking a regional war, Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Karabakh rebels should go back to the ceasefire and open up diplomatic channels.

Source: TH

Join Our Telegram

Punchhi Commission Report

E-pharmacies

08 Mar, 23
SHARE

E-pharmacies The Ministry of Health sent "show cause" letters to at least 20 businesses in February 2023 for online drug sales, including Tata-1mg, Flipkart, Apollo, PharmEasy, Amazon, and Reliance Netmeds. What is e-pharmacy? E-pharmacy refers to the purchasing and selling of drugs and other pharmaceutical products through a

Punchhi Commission Report

08 Mar, 23
SHARE

Punchhi Commission Report The Punchhi Commission's report on relations between the federal government and its constituent states will now be reviewed for state responses, according to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Historical Background: A Commission on Centre-State Relations was established by the Indian government,

Indo-German Relations

08 Mar, 23
SHARE

Indo-German Relations Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany, recently paid a bilateral visit to India. It is Scholz's first trip to India after taking office as German Chancellor in December 2021, ending Angela Merkel's illustrious 16-year reign. About the news: The visit of the German chancellor is significant because i

India Denmark Cooperation

07 Mar, 23
SHARE

India Denmark Cooperation During the "India-Denmark: Partners for Green and Sustainable Development Conference" in New Delhi, the Union Minister for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change said that India and Denmark can work together to show that reaching ambitious climate and sustainable energy targets is possible. Since the Gr

Mob lynching and Cow Vigilantism

07 Mar, 23
SHARE

Mob lynching and Cow Vigilantism The recent lynching and burning of two men in Haryana on the basis of allegations of unlawful cow slaughter, smuggling, or transportation bring attention to the problem of mob lynching. About cow vigilantism: Mob attacks carried out in the guise of "cow protection" primarily target Mus