• kilternkafuffle [any]
    ·
    edit-2
    4 years ago

    It isn't quite even - they have equal access to modern tech, but Armenia is smaller and poorer, while Azerbaijan is oil rich. In addition, Azerbaijan is 100% backed by Turkey, for reasons of cultural ties, strategic alliance, and oil. Armenia has no fully committed allies. Russia comes closest and Armenia is aligned with Russia, but Russia is just as interested in an alliance with Azerbaijan as it is in an alliance with Armenia, so it's not as committed to the fight as Turkey is. Turkey's direct involvement is unlikely, but if, say, Armenia starts to lose badly, Russia couldn't rescue Armenia even if it wanted to, because that would bring in Turkey - and Russia wouldn't want to piss off both Azerbaijan and Turkey. If Armenia can't fight Azerbaijan off by itself, the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh will have to flee to Armenia. (That said, a small-scale Russo-Turkish proxy war is a possibility - that's what they're already doing in Syria, despite public friendship and decent trade relations.)

    Armenians are a bit like Kurds, clinging desperately to a shrinking homeland, but without any great natural resources to attract strong allies, 'no allies but the mountains.'