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Arms deal, support for Armenia complicates relations with Iran, Ukraine, and Western allies
- 13 July 2023
- 1:03 am
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- 13 July 2023
- 1:03 am
Many actors in the world are involved in the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, even if they are not actually actively fighting it. (Photo: CanvaPro)
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Armenia and Azerbaijan have a long history of friction and military conflict, including the Second Karabakh war in 2020 and fighting over the past year. This conflict between the two countries creates a strange and interesting situation in the world of politics and inter-political relations. Many actors in the world are involved in the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, even if they are not actually actively fighting it. And in addition to that, different military systems in the world and different conflicts around the world drain and converge in this story and are divided between who the parties are. There were reports that France supports Armenia militarily, a claim that is denied by Dr. Maxime Gauin.
According to Dr. Gauin, “There is no document from the French or Armenian authorities, no photo of weapons. France hardly has the capability to arm Armenia now. The old material still efficiently comes to the Ukraine, typically the infantry armed vehicles of the previous generation. The new ones are used by the French or sold to the countries who purchased them. France was the number one provider of military material to Azerbaijan from 2014 to 2022, among the EU member states and this is based on the official reports concerning the French exports of weapons, photos, etc.”
But supposing these reports are true, that France is really arming Armenia, the necessary question to be asked is why? After all, Armenia is an ally of Russia and Iran, two countries that are not cooperating with the West and even work against it. France is a member of the Minsk Group, along with Russia and the United States, which was established to mediate between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the war and calm the spirits. Therefore, an active move by France that helps one side in a conflict border on a serious conflict of interest. France appears if the reports are true to be the one that gave the permission to India to sell “Trajan” type rifles to Armenia. The problem for the West in this arms deal is that these guns will probably make a stop in Iran before reaching their destination in Armenia. Even if this supply of guns does not reach Iran during the actual arms sale, the Iranians can gain this armament in another way in cooperation with Armenia.
Is India selling the weapons only for personal financial well-being? Or could it be that she has an interest in arming Iran? After all, in recent years Iran trades mainly with China, India’s most senior competitor for the title of the most powerful power in the East. You never know, at least not right now. So why does France want to strengthen Armenia even at the cost of strengthening Iran, which is the “enemy of the West”?
Anastasia Lavrina, an Azerbaijani Christian journalist, stated in a recent interview: “France today is in a very difficult situation. There are strikes on the street. People are dissatisfied, first with the reforms which are being implemented by the government. There were many people on the streets complaining about that. Then, they killed a 17-year-old boy. There is a high level of racism and discrimination in France. They asked for their equality. They need to have their equality. France was condemned for many years for its racism. There are many countries in Africa saying that they expect France to apologize for its colonial past. But unfortunately, we do not see France treating Africa as an equal partner.”
According to her, “We saw for many years how France supported Armenia. Many people say this is not the right way for France to act. France tried to support Armenia due to the influential Armenian Diaspora in France. They supported this diaspora rather than their national interests and now they have lost control. France thus lost its position as an objective country participating in the negotiation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan does not agree that they participate due to their openly pro-Armenian position. We know why France supports Armenia. First, because of the influential Armenian Diaspora in France. Secondly, France wants to have its influence in the South Caucasus. That is why several months ago there was a decision taken to send a humanitarian mission to Armenia.”
“There was much dissatisfaction as there were people who used it to destabilize the situation,” she noted. “Instead of encouraging Armenia to make a peace deal, France is supporting Armenia with its own military interests, which does not benefit anyone, not Armenia and not France. It just gives hope to the nationalist groups in Armenia rather than bring us closer to a peace deal. In Brussels, there should be dissatisfaction with France. France is going against international law, which is on the side of Azerbaijan and is bringing destabilization to the region.”
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The ones who revealed the information about this arms sale from India to Armenia with France’s consent are the Ukrainians, who are allies of France, which complicates this story even more. In fact, the allies of the French decided to publish this sale and hurt France, which stood by them along with the rest of the Western countries. The Ukrainians claim that the weapons that will reach Armenia will not only go to Iran, but supplies will also arrive to Russia, with which Ukraine has been at war since March 2022. The Ukrainians explain that Russia has two military bases in Armenia, so the transfer of weapons should not be complicated.
The Ukrainians continue and explain that during the Second Karabakh War, Armenia bought drones from Iran and used them against Azerbaijan, thus Armenia helped Iran circumvent the economic sanctions imposed on it. Thus, these days Iran helps Russia when economic sanctions are applied to it. On the other hand, Russia and France acted together in Syria against ISIS before the Russia-Ukraine war.
In addition, when Russia invaded Ukraine, Macron condemned Russia, but did so more gently when he called “not to humiliate Russia.” Does France-Russia relations have anything to do with this arms deal which, among other things, also strengthens Russia?
France has interests here and there, but it can be understood from this move that it is trying to get better cards in the global geopolitical game. It is true that it harms the Western countries, its natural allies (mainly harming its ally Ukraine) and does not act as expected from a country that is a member of a group whose goal is to contain and calm the war. But it may very well be that she gains something that is worth this action. Is it true? This too, now it is impossible to know, but one can wonder about it.
Rachel Avraham is the CEO of the Dona Gracia Center for Diplomacy and an Israel-based journalist. She is the author of “Women and Jihad: Debating Palestinian Female Suicide Bombings in the American, Israeli and Arab Media.”
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Thank you for choosing TheJ.Ca as your source for Canadian Jewish News.
We do news differently!
Our positioning as a Zionist News Media platform sets us apart from the rest. While other Canadian Jewish media are advocating increasingly biased progressive political and social agendas, TheJ.Ca is providing more and more readers with a welcome alternative and an ideological home.
We revealed the incursion of anti-Israel progressive elements such as IfNotNow into our communities. We have exposed the distorted hateful agenda of the “progressive” left political radicals who brought Linda Sarsour to our cities, and we were first to report on many disturbing incidents of Nazi-based hate towards Jews across Canada.
But we can’t do it alone. We need your HELP!
Our ability to thrive and grow in 2020 and beyond depends on the generosity of committed readers and supporters like you.
Monthly support is a great way to help us sustain our operations. We greatly appreciate any contributions you can make to support Jewish Journalism.
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