Over the past 40 years, Armenia and Azerbaijan have been engaged in a brutal on and off ethnic war over the control of Nagorno-Karabakh. This region is 99% ethnically Armenian and seceded from Azerbaijan after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1980. Instantly after succession, these two nations began to engage in combat, with the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh being supported by Armenian military forces. Both of these countries have diplomatic ties to Russia, but today Russia supports Armenia more than Azerbaijan and is the only “major” global power player directly involved in the conflict. Azerbaijan over recent history has been using its ties to Turkey, along with Syrian mercenaries, and weaponry supplied in massive weapon deals by Israel to maintain power in the conflict.
This conflict, after numerous unsuccessful peace agreements, started again this Fall and has been as intense as ever with both sides claiming the other has been committing civilian atrocities. Armenia said Azerbaijan fired the first shots. Azerbaijan said it was launching a “counter-offensive” in response to Armenian aggression. Over this time, the Azerbaijani forces, supported mostly by Turkey, have “successfully” expanded their borders into formerly Armenian territories. Just this week, a peace deal between these countries was signed, brokered by Russia.
Armenians globally have expressed outrage in this peace deal, as it led to large amounts of territories being handed over to Azerbaijan, and for families that lost loved ones in Armenia’s draft based civilian army, there is a sentiment that their lives were lost in vain.
In the past, these deals have not lasted very long, and while we should remain hopeful for the future, this conflict is likely far from over, and should it continue, the violence will likely only get worse.