Kazakhstan-Armenia: An Historic Visit, Mediation and Corridor-building
On April 15, 2024, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid an official visit to Armenia. These two states are partners in a number of international organizations – the CSTO (despite turbulence related to the attitude of the Armenian leadership to this organization), the EAEU, the CIS, and the OSCE. Bilateral trade is developing dynamically: trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Armenia increased by 23% from $43.1 million to $53.1 million at the end of 2023 compared to the beginning of the year…
Turkey and the "3+3" Format Prospects
Turkey demonstrating an active foreign policy aimed at raising its status from a regional state to a major power and leader of the Turkic world. Its diplomacy synthesizes several complementary doctrines: “neo-Ottomanism,” “neopanturanism,” “Turkish Eurasianism,” and “Turkish axis.” Ankara realizes that NATO membership guarantees its strategic safety against external threats from key anti-Western countries. At the same time, the Turkish political elite realizes that the West is particularly reluctant to see Turkey as a member of the European Union and will stretch the time of European integration. Ankara prefers, forcedly or by choice…
Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict: Biting the Hand that Feeds – Or, Armenians Committing National Suicide?
The more I watch the Armenian government and its increasing desire to divorce itself from its traditional protector, Russia, and join the EU and NATO, the more I wonder what possible logic they could be following? I am constantly wondering what the leadership in Yerevan is thinking, and what information they have which is not public. Maybe there is a method to their madness. Armenia wants to give more land to Azerbaijan, with a promise from the US that it will protect it, and that is really delusional…
Turkey is counting on the Zangezur Corridor
At an event marking the 97th anniversary of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization, or MIT, held on January 10 this year, President Recep Erdoğan was quoted by Anadolu Ajansi as saying: “Day by day, Turkey is strengthening its position as an influential power and leading player on the global chessboard.” He went on to say that Ankara has created a “Turkish axis” and does not intend to listen to any other parties when conducting its own foreign policy. In his speech to representatives of the country’s main intelligence service, Recep Erdoğan insisted that Turkey takes all necessary measures…
Not a Good Year for Armenians, NK and the World: USAID* arriving so Armenians can sleep well tonight!
All in all, 2023 will not go down as a good year for Armenia. Those who can immigrate to the US or Europe will leave any way possible. I have met a few here already, and they were smart to get out early. Now the short-term emphasis from the West, besides finger pointing and trying to frame Russia for the mess, will be on the provision of humanitarian assistance for those relocating from Nagorno-Karabakh in the face of the threat of massive ethnic cleansing…
Bleak future for Ethnic NK Armenians, “Has Pashinyan Made Serious Policy Blunders?”
The old adage of you can’t have your cake and eat it too has special meaning for Armenians worldwide. The world is just too distracted with more important things, like Ukraine, and like throughout history, Armenians are cast off and presented as being their own worst enemies. However, that is far from the truth in today’s geopolitical realities. The Western Headlines of Azerbaijan’s latest battlefield gains are timed for the greatest clickbait effect, and can be most revealing for the game being played. Shockingly Quick Defeat…
Russia’s partnership with Turkey has little impact on its dominance in the South Cau-casus
The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on September 4 of this year sparked heated debate in the media. Expert assessments were frequently wishful thinking having little to do with reality. The prospect of regional leadership in the South Caucasus was one of these topics. Prior to the presidents’ meeting this year, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan traveled to Moscow on August 31 and September 1 with the goal of organizing the summit in Sochi and agreeing upon the agenda of the negotiations between…
Is a New War between Armenian and Azerbaijan “Very Likely” in the Shadow of Ukraine?
Washington’s role and pressing concern over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh (NK), the ethnic Armenian enclave insider the border of Azerbaijan proper, are now minimal at first impression. The same can be said for other countries, organizations and prestigious international organizations and their interests in the region. However, there are still many active points of contention in Armenian-Azeri relations, including proverbially, as well as literally, unexploded landmines, which have far-reaching foreign policy implications. Yet, the world presently appears to be turning a blind eye to these issues…
Armenia-Azerbaijan Again on the Frontline, Is the US Meddling as Usual?
It would be easy to dismiss the latest incidents in the Armenian-Azeri conflict zone as more of the same; however, when you read the headlines in the US media, the New York Times for instance, more may be involved. Could not the US send someone besides Nancy Pelosi as an envoy to stir the pot? There is no need...