The Azerbaijani Armed Forces isn’t a huge military, but does spend about 5% of its country’s GDP annually. This could rapidly become a lot more as the war in Nagorno-Karabakh escalates, and President Aliyev is vowing to “fight to the end.”
Aliyev says he will commit all means available to recover Azeri control over Nagorno-Karabakh, and will continue to contest the region to the end. After several failed ceasefire efforts, and threats by Turkey and Russia to get involved, this could easily become out of hand as a regional conflict.
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but is under ethnic Armenian control. The two nations are in a constant state of unrest over this, which erupts into occasional skirmishes. This latest flare up is one of the biggest in decades.
Within Nagorno-Karabakh, the Azeri forces have claimed some territorial gains, which has some believing they can resolve this situation once and for all. At the same time, Armenia has shelled Azerbaijan’s cities, and has been courting Russian support in the conflict.
Why don’t they let the people decide in a referendum like the Cremians did in 2014?
the province is 90 percent Armenian
Which province?
Nagorno-Karabakh, yes. It has been historically Armenian.
But what about 7 regions OUTSIDE of NK that Armenia captured in 1994? Regions that were over 90% Azeri? And from where over 600,000 Azeris fled? Regions that UN SC resolution mandates Armenia to return? In total, between NK and these surrounding regions — Armenia controls 25% of Azerbaijan territory. And for everyone’s information — Armenia demolished most of the homes and businesses in the region to prevent refugees from returning. After that, the ruins were used for hauling away any useful construction material.
Azerbaijan has been steadily gaining these territories mostly in the South, and along Iranian border.
I do not expect any wider conflict. Russia will not get involved, neither will Turkey.
What seems to be happening is clamoring for regional problem solving before taking it to Minsk Group.
Proposal by Iran is to create regional group in Astana format, where belligerents would meet, and supported by neighbors and allies, hammer out a solution.
The whole purpose of Turkish involvement is to regionalize the conflict, to have a regional framework preventing out of area European powers and US to gain foothold.
Commentariat still thinks in imperial
terms. ASSUMING that all those dumb people and their insignificant countries are incapable of solving their problems. These are the vestiges of imperial times, be that Russian Empire or Soviet Empire. And require solution that takes into account everybody’s grievances.
As Putin said, both countries have their own truth. Time to find the most just solution.
They are fighting over claims of past ethnic cleansing, and small populations that have moved.
A vote would be too much like the Kansas-Nebraska voting from before the American Civil War, in which the terms of who votes where becomes a cause of war.
they fought for 5 years and Armenians cleansed Azeris in 1994. so far 7000 Azeri soldiers have died. artahsk is devoid of natural resources and has little arable land. armenians are dislike by everyone–anti-semitic, Russophobic they r disliked by Georgians, azeri turks. they have prepared poorly; Azeris have purchased advanced weapons from Israel and Turkey; it is unknown if azeris can displace armenians in the mountainous regions; to date they have only been successful on flat terrain
http://www.visions.az/en/news/48/e0d0500a/
To understand Nagorno-Karabakh, one probably receives a better understanding while studying the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic birth pangs. Written from an Azeri perspective in 2009.
Armenia was a factor, then and now.
https://journal-neo.org/2019/04/23/can-armenia-survive-the-western-clock-and-dagger-infiltration/
Can Armenia survive Western Cloak and Dagger Infiltrations?