On September 20, according to the global network news, the Nagorno-Karabakh region once again became the focus of international attention. The long-standing territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan once again provoked the conflict, but this time, the outcome of the conflict was heavy for Armenia. This article will delve into the background and development of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as the impact of the Armenian government's announcement of unconditional surrender.
Background to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
The Nagorno-Karabakh region, also known as Artsakh-Nagorno-Karabakh, has been a point of contention between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The inhabitants of this area are mainly ethnic Armenians, but it is actually located within the territory of Azerbaijan. Armenia has long supported the separatist regime in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and has provided support in the conflict.
The root cause of the conflict is territorial disputes, but over time, religious, ethnic and political factors have seeped in, making settlement more complex. Since the Nagorno-Karabakh war in the early 90s of the 20th century, the region has been in a situation of instability, sometimes conflict, sometimes détente, but the problem has not been completely resolved.
The outbreak of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Azerbaijani soldier
The sudden outbreak of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 2023 surprised the world. The Azerbaijani government announced a "military operation" in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, with heavy shelling and strikes on local military facilities. The reason for this action is not only territorial disputes, but also concerns the Armenian-backed separatist regime in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, as well as Armenia's accusations of secretly transporting weapons and soldiers to the region.
Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan publicly accused Azerbaijan of "deliberately provoking the war," saying at least 32 people were killed in Azerbaijani attacks and about 200 others were injured. Azerbaijan, however, insists that their actions are in response to provocations by Armenia, which they believe supports the "separatist government" in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and transports weapons and soldiers for this purpose. The Afghan side claims that they will stop the operation only after the surrender of the "separatist government" and local "illegal military groups". However, this time, after 48 hours of "fighting", the Armenian side chose to bow its head and agree to unconditionally withdraw its troops and disarm the militia.
Russia's mediating role
Peacekeepers of the Russian army
The conflict, which aroused concern in the international community, was eventually calmed down, thanks in part to Russia's mediation role. Russia has peacekeepers in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and they played a key role in the crisis. Through mediation and good offices, Russian peacekeepers have promoted the rational handling of the situation by both sides and helped reach a ceasefire agreement. In addition, Russia actively evacuated about 2,000 civilians from the warring areas, saving many lives.
However, despite the fact that a ceasefire agreement has temporarily ended the conflict, the peace situation in Nagorno-Karabakh remains precarious. Mass protests erupted in Armenia, accusing the government of failing to protect Armenians living in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Some protesters also shouted anti-Russian slogans at the Russian embassy, arguing that Russia had "favored" Azerbaijan and harmed the interests of the Armenian nation.
Potential U.S. involvement
On the other hand, the Armenian government believes that Russia is "biased" with Azerbaijan, so they are actively seeking support from the United States. In this conflict, the United States has clearly sided with Armenia, which may lead to a disruption of the military balance and an increased risk of a re-outbreak of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
In summary, although the current ceasefire agreement has avoided larger casualties, the territorial and ethnic contradictions between Armenia and Azerbaijan have not been fundamentally resolved. These contradictions have been the source of repeated outbreaks of conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. As U.S. pressure on Russia continues to increase, the U.S. may become more active in the future, making it possible for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to break out again. Therefore, Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan need to remain calm and sane and avoid becoming pawns of external political forces in order to protect the inhabitants of the Nagorno-Karabakh region from the fires of war.