Over the past two months, Azerbaijani forces have established a blockade around the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, cutting off the area’s residents from Armenia. Ethnic Armenians in this region in the South Caucasus are worried they will be forced out of their homes, and matters have escalated. According to reports, the Armenians residing in Nagorno-Karabakh have lost access to food, medicine, and fuel.
The developments have finally caught the attention of the international community.
Azerbaijanis and Armenians have fought over Nagorno-Karabakh for decades. Numerous skirmishes in the region have led to the deaths of thousands, and countless cease-fires have been violated.
The current Azerbaijani blockade is the most recent development in a long conflict. Last year, Armenian government officials stated they would withdraw from the region by September. Karabakh authorities also demanded that residents in the Lachin region relocate. Despite these announcements and requests, tens of thousands of ethnic Armenians continued to reside in the area. This upset Azerbaijani authorities, who now aim to take matters into their own hands.
Russia and Turkey served as intermediaries during the renewed Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in 2020, but their efforts have proven unsuccessful. Russian forces in the region have been unable to keep the peace, and the Russian federation has less attention to give to the conflict since it is preoccupied with its own failed invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, Turkey is burdened with various domestic issues ranging from inflation to a declining economy. All of this forces the Azerbaijanis and the Armenians to try and resolve the conflict on their own.
With Russia and Turkey unable to maintain peace, it is time for the international community to intervene in Nagorno-Karabakh. If the world stands by, the conflict will grow even more dangerous and deadly.
The international community has in the past provided financial assistance and humanitarian aid, but these aid efforts have not helped matters. More action is required to help resolve the conflict, and outside interlocutors must work directly with local Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders.
The United States and Europe have already started to act. For example, U.S. Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA) and members of the Congressional Armenian Caucus recently said they would introduce a resolution that condemned the Azerbaijani blockade. The proposed resolution “calls for the immediate suspension of any U.S. military or security assistance to Azerbaijan.” Similarly, U.S. Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX), the Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, urged Azerbaijan to “facilitate fully unimpeded free passage” of ethnic Armenians through the Lachin Corridor.
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee members made their own concerns known, writing a letter to the Biden administration stating that the United States “must hold Azerbaijan to account for blocking a civilian population’s access to food and basic necessities.” These actions suggest that both chambers of Congress condemn the Azerbaijani blockade, and that both major political parties are urging the White House to punish Azerbaijan for its behavior.
Meanwhile, the European Union announced it would establish a Mission in Armenia. This European effort would seek to “contribute to stability in the border areas of Armenia,” and it would aim to create “an environment conducive to normalization efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan.” Finally, Europeans involved in the mission will “conduct routine patrolling and report on the situation” in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Last year, European Council President Charles Michel met with Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders on several occasions, but engagements with these political leaders were unsuccessful. The Azerbaijanis and Armenians continue to argue with one another, and the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh simply continues, without an apparent end. Given these failures, perhaps establishing an EU Mission in Armenia will allow the Europeans to work more closely with their Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts. This, in turn, will lead to greater dialogue between these parties, and it could enhance the negotiation process between these parties.
Finally, the International Court of Justice has ordered Azerbaijan to end its blockade around Nagorno-Karabakh. It is unclear, however, how the ICJ’s ruling will be enforced. Nonetheless, American and European officials are working swiftly to address the matters at hand in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
It will take time to try and resolve the conflict, but recent American and European efforts suggest that they are willing to make a more concerted effort to resolve current tensions. Sending financial and humanitarian aid has not worked, but maybe engaging directly with Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts will finally make a difference.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has lasted far too long. It is time for peace.
Mark Temnycky is an accredited freelance journalist covering Eastern Europe and a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center. He can be found on Twitter @MTemnycky The views expressed are the author's own.
