Does Russia Support Armenia or Azerbaijan? Russia’s Role in the South Caucasus Tensions

The ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh has drawn significant global attention. Central to understanding this conflict is deciphering Russia’s role, given its historical ties and strategic interests in the region.

Russia’s Historical Ties with Armenia

Russia has long-standing connections with Armenia, its only strategic ally in the South Caucasus. These ties date back to Armenia’s inclusion in the Russian Empire and have only strengthened post-Soviet collapse. Since 1991, Russia has maintained a military base in Armenia. Moreover, Russian border forces are responsible for securing Armenia’s borders against Turkey and Iran.

Summary of “does russia support armenia or azerbaijan”

Erosion of Trust Russia’s Inaction during the Conflict

As tensions escalated in 2020, Azerbaijan made aggressive moves against Nagorno-Karabakh. Despite Armenia’s appeals, invoking their collective security treaty, Russia refrained from military intervention. This inaction has profoundly shaken Armenia’s trust in Russia. Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia’s Prime Minister, made it clear that Armenia’s faith in Russia as a security guarantor has diminished.

Russia’s Dual Role Arms Supplier to Azerbaijan

Russia’s involvement isn’t solely supportive of Armenia. The nation stands as one of Azerbaijan’s primary arms suppliers. This dual role became evident when, despite its security obligations to Armenia, Russia continued to supply arms to Azerbaijan, even during their offensive against Armenia.

Consequences of Russia’s Inaction

Russia’s decision not to intervene has ripple effects. Their inaction has eroded the once-strong trust between Armenia and Russia and fostered closer ties between Azerbaijan and Turkey. This passive stance has also triggered concerns regarding Russia’s reliability as a security ally in the South Caucasus.

Current Status and Future Outlook

Presently, the relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains strained. Both nations accuse each other of amassing troops, hinting at potential future conflicts. While Russia continues to be a significant player, its exact role remains mired in uncertainty.

Conclusion

Russia’s position in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict is multifaceted. Historically, Russia has supported Armenia. However, its arms supply to Azerbaijan and inaction during the 2020 war suggests a more complex dynamic. As of now, while Russia continues to wield influence in the South Caucasus, answering the question, “does russia support armenia or azerbaijan,” is not black and white.

FAQs:

1. Is Russia solely in support of Armenia?
No, Russia has historical ties with Armenia but also supplies arms to Azerbaijan.

2. Did Russia intervene during Azerbaijan’s 2020 offensive against Armenia?
No, despite Armenia’s appeals, Russia did not provide military intervention.

3. How has Russia’s inaction affected Armenia-Russia relations?
It has significantly eroded trust, with Armenia questioning Russia’s reliability as a security guarantor.

4. What is the current status between Armenia and Azerbaijan?
Tensions persist with both nations accusing each other of amassing troops, indicating potential future conflicts. Russia’s exact role remains uncertain.

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