Vocal Diplomacy

Azerbaijani officials have announced a surprising plan to settle 140,000 Azerbaijanis in Artsakh by 2026. Emin Huseynov, the special representative of the President of Azerbaijan, unveiling this plan, signifies a rapid and determined effort to reshape the demographic landscape of the region.   What makes this plan particularly interesting is its numerical correlation with the indigenous Armenians who left Artsakh. After Azerbaijan's military attack in 2020, 100,000 people departed, and following the 44-day war, 40,000 did not return. This coincidence raises eyebrows and prompts questions about the intended consequences of such a large-scale resettlement.   Azerbaijani officials, who have not engaged in significant resettlement efforts in the previously occupied territories over the past three years, now express readiness to relocate 140,000 people to Artsakh in a remarkably short time frame. This announcement has led to significant concerns about the fate of the prop...

In recent geopolitical developments, the Middle East, particularly Turkey's actions in Syria, has witnessed escalating tensions. The incident of American forces halting a Turkish drone in Syria underscores the complex alliance dynamics that the United States must navigate in the region. The backdrop of this scenario focuses on long-standing tensions between Turkey and Kurdish groups, especially the role played by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), including the YPG. The complexity of alliances and hostilities has cast a shadow of direct conflict between two NATO members—Turkey and the United States. Currently, the main question centers on how the U.S. should respond if Turkey escalates its actions and directly targets American forces in Syria. The answer requires a nuanced approach that considers both immediate concerns and broader geopolitical implications. First and foremost, it is imperative not to categorize the activities of the SDF/YPG as "terrorist activities." ...

The South Caucasus region has once again found itself at the center of geopolitical tensions, with the Zangezur corridor emerging as a focal point in the ongoing chess game between Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Armenia. Against the backdrop of historical animosities and recent military conflicts, the corridor has become a symbol of strategic importance and regional aspirations. In the aftermath of Azerbaijan's September 19 attack on Karabakh, a seemingly concluded ceasefire on September 20 did little to ease the underlying tensions. Karabakh Armenians, left vulnerable to the Aliyev regime, are now migrating to Armenia in convoys. The anti-Armenian sentiment in Azerbaijan, witnessed in 2020, 2022, and the recent war, is a driving force behind this displacement. The Zangezur corridor, a topic continually brought to the table since 2020, has resurfaced in discussions between Ankara and Baku. The ambition is to establish a corridor connecting Nakhchivan with Azerbaijan, necessitating its pas...