12.01.2021, Yerevan.
The creation of Turkish military bases in Azerbaijan would be an anti-Russian step. Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences Safrastyan said this on January 12, Sputnik Armenia informs.
“The presence of Turkish military bases in Azerbaijan is a primary threat to Russia. After all, it is the main geopolitical rival of Turkey in the South Caucasus and prevents the expansion of Turkey’s zone of influence in the region,” Safrastyan said.
The expert noted that before the recent war in Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkey’s military activity was limited to the territory of Nakhchivan. After the end of hostilities, it spreads to the rest of Azerbaijani territory.
According to Safrastyan, Turkey’s behavior is in line with its geostrategy aimed at strengthening the Turkish influence in Transcaucasia. The creation of Turkish air bases on the Azerbaijani territory is only a matter of time, and it is possible that the bases will appear not only in Gabala, Ganja and Lankaran, but also on the shores of the Caspian Sea, he said.
The expert noted that Russia most likely does not like the prospect of the Turkish bases’ establishment in Azerbaijan, but it does not show it openly. At the same time, according to him, Russia skillfully managed to ensure that after the war in Karabakh Turkey received only a small part of what it expected. Particularly, it concerns the unrealized hopes of Ankara for the participation in the peacemaking military group in Karabakh.
Earlier it was reported that Turkey was going to build three military bases in Azerbaijan and they were planned to be located in Gabala, Ganja and Lankaran.
On November 9, a joint statement of the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan on the full cease-fire in Nagorno-Karabakh, where since September 27 were fierce fighting caused by the offensive of Azerbaijan took place, was signed. A Russian peacekeeping contingent was deployed in the region to monitor the ceasefire. During this military clash, Turkey fully supported Azerbaijan’s actions.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
