Choosing Turkey instead of Russia is dangerous historical blindness – Semyon Bagdasarov

Speaking with Alpha News, Semyon Bagdasarov, Director of the Center for the Study of the Middle East and Central Asia, commented on the situation in the South Caucasus.

“The Armenian authorities are deliberately pursuing political projects that could distance Armenia from Russia and push it not even toward the European Union, but into the embrace of the Turkish-Azerbaijani duo. Turkey has always played the role for Western powers of a country that resolves certain problems ahead of them—including by military means. Historically, this has been the case: in numerous Russo–Turkish wars and in World War I. Turkey has always played such a role. The collective West—Europe and the United States—very much wants Armenia to move in that direction. If that happens, they would fully control the South Caucasus, a strategically important region from which they could create many problems for Russia. This region has a serious impact on Russia’s southern flank, above all the North Caucasus, with all the challenges that exist there.

Right now, a very interesting military-political situation is unfolding in the South Caucasus. For a long time, Azerbaijan’s leadership modestly stated that its army was adopting Turkish standards. And Turkey, let us recall, is a NATO country. In other words, it was essentially about NATO standards. Now they openly say: yes, we are adopting NATO standards. Everything there is under the strict control of Turkey’s military leadership. Geopolitically and militarily, the situation in the South Caucasus is developing negatively. In the end, Armenia will gain nothing: it will find itself in a difficult position, heavily dependent on Turkey, which is backed by the West, including the United States,” Bagdasarov said.

According to the expert, Turkey continues to play the role of a state that pushes Russia out of the South Caucasus in the interests of the collective West.

“Russia misunderstands Turkey’s role in the South Caucasus. It is a situational ally that has already carried out many anti-Russian actions. I recall Erdogan’s words, where he said that Turkey recently achieved three strategic victories—in Libya, in Syria, and in Nagorno-Karabakh. Therefore, further flirting with Erdogan, in my view, does not serve Russia’s interests. I have always said this openly, honestly, and directly—and unfortunately, I turn out to be right.

Turkey has historically played and continues to play the role of a state that pushes Russia aside in the interests of the collective West. The strengthening of Turkey in the South Caucasus and Central Asia also does not serve Russia’s interests. This state has always seen Russia as its adversary. I remind you that Soviet Russia once made a major mistake by helping Ataturk during the Greco-Turkish war. Turkey has never been and will never be Russia’s ally. Recent facts confirm this. Therefore, Turkey’s further advance into Transcaucasia inevitably harms Russian interests—there is no doubt about that.

As for Armenia, there is no need to explain what the dominance of the Turkish-Azerbaijani duo in the Caucasus will lead to. Only the current ruling team in Armenia can believe in such illusions, while it intensifies pressure on the Armenian Apostolic Church and everything that resists this harmful influence,” Bagdasarov said.