Baku, Azerbaijan – In a recent interview, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused Armenia of posing a “fascist” threat to the region, suggesting that the country must be “destroyed” to eliminate this threat. Aliyev’s comments have sparked concerns about a potential escalation in the already tense relations between the two nations2.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have a long history of conflict, particularly over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. In September 2023, Azerbaijan retook control of Karabakh, leading to the mass exodus of its Armenian population2. Despite both sides expressing a desire to sign a peace treaty, progress has been slow, and diplomatic ties remain severed.
Aliyev’s recent remarks have been met with strong criticism from Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who accused Baku of attempting to justify potential conflict. Pashinyan reiterated Armenia’s commitment to peaceful negotiations2.
The situation remains delicate, with Azerbaijan demanding constitutional changes from Armenia before any treaty can be signed, while Armenia denies making any territorial claims on Azerbaijani lands.
The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the long-standing conflict.