Eurasia Diary presents an article titled "The Geostrategic Extent of South Caucasus; India Armenia deal" published in Youth Diplomacy Forum.
Article by Dr Mehmood Ul Hasan Khan, expert on regional and geopolitical studies.
The Geostrategic Dimensions of the South Caucasus and India Armenia Military cooperation amid Russia Ukraine War:
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has now entered into a “decisive phase”. The most recent speech of Russian president Putin clearly signaled a “negotiated settlement” in which Turkey may play an important role.
However, interestingly by “signing a deal” for the supply of the latest military equipment from India, the “warmongerings” of Armenia and India have now reached a “strategic level” which would change the security equation in South Caucasus. Both countries enjoy a treaty of friendship and cooperation signed in 1995.
India Armenia Military deal:
According to the Indian news outlet Economic Times, Armenia ordered heavy weapons from India worth an estimated $245 million. It includes missiles, rockets, and ammunition amid escalating tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Karabakh region, which was largely liberated by the armed forces of Azerbaijan from Armenian illegal occupation in late 2020.
The Economic Times said the order also includes the first ever export of the indigenous Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers that are also used by the Indian army, as well as anti-tank rockets and a range of ammunition.
Furthermore, India in 2020 had also supplied four Swathi radars to Armenia during the Karabakh war with Azerbaijan.
Pinaka Multibarrel rocket launchers:
The deal was significant because Russian and Polish vendors were also in the race to sell radars to Armenia. However, Armenia was defeated and Russia and Türkiye brokered a peace treaty. Armenia illegally occupied Karabakh and seven adjacent regions Lachin, Kalbajar, Aghdam, Fuzuli, Jabrayil, Qubadli, and Zangilan a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan since 1991.
Moreover, Armenia has had been indulged in systematic ethnical discrimination, racial genocides, and socio-economic marginalization of peaceful people of Azerbaijan living in these areas for centuries. However, 44 days Patriotic War of 2020 proved “lethal” to all the conspiracies of Armenia, and all these areas were subsequently “liberated”.
War waged by Armenia:
In the near past, Armenia “waged a war” against peaceful Azerbaijan and started large-scale “clashes” in the Karabakh region on Sept. 27, 2020. The Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces, violating several humanitarian cease-fire agreements.
On its part, Azerbaijan’s armed forces launched a counter-offensive operation, later dubbed “Iron Fist,” which led to the 44-day conflict ending with the liberation of Azerbaijani lands from the occupation of the Armenian forces. The fighting ended with a deal brokered by Russia.