Syria Lost, Armenia Upset – Is Russia Losing Its Grip On Asia Due To Ukraine?

Moscow:

Russia and its long-term former Soviet ally Armenia are drifting aside resulting from a collection of defence commitments remaining unfulfilled by Moscow as a result of warfare in Ukraine. While Russia has acknowledged this, Moscow has cautioned Yerevan – Armenia’s capital – of its closeness to international locations Moscow considers hostile.

Armenia, a West Asian land-locked nation, sandwiched between rivals Azerbaijan and Turkey, has for many years relied on Russia to produce weapons. The nation has been in battle with arch-rival Azerbaijan over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Its hostile western neighbour Turkey, totally backs Azerbaijan, a Muslim-majority State, whereas a overwhelming majority in Armenia are Christians.

LOSING ITS GRIP OVER ASIA?

Stretched over its three-year warfare with Ukraine, Russia has been unable to return to the help of its regional allies. First it misplaced an ally in Syria, with Bashar Assad’s regime collapsing to the civil warfare fuelled by West-backed rebels. Last week, Donald Trump backed Syria’s new President – a former Al Qaeda terrorist, who led the rebels and ensured Assad’s fall. Turkey, a NATO ally, and Saudi Arabia, US’ Middle East ally stepped in too. Syria, which was dominated by the Assad household for greater than 5 many years, was a strategic stronghold for Moscow.

Russia is now unable to produce the weapons Armenia wants for its safety. Even weapon orders Armenia has already paid for, stay unfulfilled. This has led Yerevan to discover different choices.

In latest years, Armenia has turned to France and India for lots of its arms purchases. While provides from a pleasant nation like India meets Russia’s approval, a rising relationship between Armenia and France is a pink flag for Moscow.

‘FIGHTING ALL OF EUROPE’

Russian overseas minister Sergey Lavrov held a joint press convention together with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan on Wednesday, the place he acknowledged contractual delays on Moscow’s half. Mr Lavrov stated that some orders have additionally been reassigned. He blamed this case on the what he described as an existential confrontation with the collective West.

“We are at present in a scenario the place, as has occurred all through historical past, we’re compelled to combat all of Europe,” Mr Lavrov stated, accusing European nations of backing Ukraine “below Nazi slogans”. He added that “Our Armenian associates perceive that in such circumstances we can not fulfil all our obligations on time.”

CAUTION OVER ARMENIA’S FRENCH CONNECTION

Cautioning Armenia over its rising defence ties with France, Mr Lavrov stated, whereas Moscow doesn’t oppose Yerevan shopping for arms from different international locations, its dependence on the West has raised considerations in Russia over Armenia’s long-term strategic path. “When an ally turns to a rustic like France, which leads the hostile camp and whose President and ministers converse overtly with hatred towards Russia, it does elevate questions,” he stated.

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan (R) and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov (L) met in Yerevan

Mr Lavrov’s comment assumes significance not simply due to Moscow’s incapacity to produce weapons, but additionally as a result of its conventional ties with Yerevan has been deteriorating quick. Though Armenia stays formally allied to Russia, its rapidly-growing ties with the collective West has been an enormous reason behind fear for Moscow.

ARMENIA UPSET WITH RUSSIA

In latest instances, Armenia has even acted towards Russian curiosity, when it successfully stopped its participation within the Collective Security Treaty Organisation or CSTO, a Russian-led safety umbrella of ex-Soviet international locations.

Armenia can also be livid over the result in Karabakh arising out of a scarcity of Russian assist. Yerevan has accused Moscow’s peacekeepers of failing to guard over 100,000 ethnic Armenians who fled the area of Karabakh after Azerbaijan’s sudden navy operation and takeover of the territory in 2023.