Alot of friendly countries in the area.
As Russia appears to get weaker its allies look for ways to get out from under Moscow’s thumb.
As Russia appears to get weaker its allies look for ways to get out from under Moscow’s thumb.
It’s tough figuring these things out nowadays, since for each country there’s really two countries.
The first version of a country is its citizens and what they believe about what their government is doing and telling them.
The second version is the deep state (which controls the government in each country) and what they’re really doing.
Alot of friendly countries in the area.
175 Armenian troops? That’s it?
Another country Putin hopes to take over some day.
Putin has tried to play both sides in the on-again off-again fracas between Christian Armenia and Muslim Azerbaijan, because (a) it helps his military industries (from 2011 to 2020 Russia was the largest exporter of arms to both Armenia and Azerbaijan) and (b) geography (part of the southern underbelly land bridge from Russia down to Turkey and Iran) and (c) other regional power seekers like Turkey (backing Azerbaijan) and Iran (Shia Muslim like 85% of Azerbaijan).
Armenia is telling Putin his playing both sides is not working. Putin would like to keep backing Muslim Azerbaijan in an attempt to deny stronger influence there from Turkey and Iran, but Armenia is noticing Putin aiding both sides is really working in Azerbaijan’s favor, and the opposite side of Armenia is Turkey, which is also taking sides with Azerbaijan.
Armenia is seeking a major ally from outside the region, because it needs one.