ArmInfo. By employing Turkey and its satellite Azerbaijan, the West can easily ensure a follow-up to the situation around Ukraine in the South Caucasus, the political scientist Stepan Danielyan told ArmInfo.
"It is impossible to say now whether a war will break out in Ukraine or not. But, in my view, the fact is the situation there is directly linked to the South Caucasus. In the context of the West-set global goals, namely, restricting Russia's geopolitical influence in the post-Soviet area, Ukraine and the South Caucasus are different vectors of one case," he said.
Mr Danielyan regards the 44-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh and the conflict in the south-east of Ukraine as links of one geopolitical chain, with the global attention focused on Ukraine primarily due to the efforts by Great Britain, which, in turn, "lets loose" the beneficiaries of Russia's restricted influence in the post- Soviet area. According to the expert, they are considering Ukraine and the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict in one context.
Nothing will prevent the international community to deal with problems in the South Caucasus simultaneously with the ones in Ukraine, with the only purpose of preventing Moscow extending its influence in the post-Soviet area. The only difference is that the problems in the South Caucasus are being and will be dealt with by means of Turkey and Azerbaijan.
In the context of the growing influence of the NATO member Turkey in the South Caucasus, and its extending influence over Central Asia as a result of the 44-day war, Mr Danielyan points out that in this geopolitical rivalry Turkey is the West's instrument, partner and one of the beneficiaries. And, as in the last case, Armenia will be the first victim of Turkey's involvement against Russia and Iran in the region.
"No doubt, all the geopolitical processes in question could influence the situation in Artsakh. Just as in the autumn of 2020, the West is concerned with more global issues rather than with Artsakh or Armenia. The current situation involving Armenia and Azerbaijan and Artsakh's very existence, even in this form, are an obstacle to the plans to undermine the regional positions of Russia and Iran. And it is only by resolving this problem by bringing Artsakh and even Armenia's Syunik under Azerbaijan's - and, in a broader sense, Turkey's - full control, can the West achieve its goals involving Russia and Iran," Mr Danielyan said.