Cultures and Connections

Armenia is a small country with big allies.

The country is only bordered by two others, Georgia and Azerbaijan, its aggressor.

Armenia is found nestled between the Black and Caspian Seas, which are both in the Middle East and somewhat close to Europe and Ukraine.

Its most powerful western ally is the United States and its strongest eastern ally is Russia (who is fighting a war of its own with Ukraine).

Azerbaijan also has ties with Russia and a military relationship with Turkey, a nation with whom it cooperates extensively from a military perspective.

It formally established diplomatic relations with the United States in 1992, following its independence from the former Soviet Union.

Although countries who share a combative history with each other often have common allies, no advantage is gained when those allies do not offer much, if any, assistance.  

Azerbaijan is one of the coastal countries of the Caspian Sea, and there have been several disputes regarding navigation rights and territorial waters in the area.

The War

The military forces of both nations are still engaged in a border conflict, which has now lasted over two years.

Azerbaijan is currently occupying at least 20 square miles of Armenian territory, and it does not appear this conflict will end soon.

Previously, Azerbaijan has launched several military campaigns against Armenia.

The most recent, besides the current conflict, was in early 2020, before the outbreak of COVID. 

The main reason for this attack is over a faux  “anti-terrorist operation”.

Overall, this war has become extremely painful for Armenia and has not taken the rights and perspectives of Armenians into view.