Pundit: West-Russia confrontation embraces South Caucasus as well

Russian political scientist Andrei Areshev has said that the geopolitical confrontation between the West and Russia centered in Ukraine has a much more global character and covers many regions.

From this point of view, the South Caucasus and events related to the Karabakh conflict have become a unique area of activity for the West, he said in an interview with Armenian media, Caliber.Az reports.

"The Russian leadership correctly formulates the problem. For the West, the issue is not only about ensuring security, but rather about ousting Russia, which has been present in the region for a long time. Obviously, such geopolitical changes cannot but cause destabilization in such an unstable region. This is reflected in the canceled negotiations and the tense atmosphere.

Today, the situation in the South Caucasus is different. The Armenian authorities are Western-oriented, pinning their hopes on Western partners. However, they do not seem ready to take the latter step because of certain circumstances, including the economic privileges that Armenia receives from relations with Russia. Russia realizes this and discusses it: Armenia receives significant preferences that are not replaced, exclusively in economic terms. We often evaluate politics by statements, but statements differ greatly from real politics based on interests and opportunities. The Armenian authorities are now positioning themselves politically toward the West, but are hesitant because of the lack of resources from the West, including security and economic issues.

A drastic step involving withdrawal from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and other structures, including the Eurasian Economic Commission (EAEC), is not in Armenia's interests at the moment. Criticism against EAEC is not coincidental. I agree with former CSTO Secretary Bordyuzha, who believes that leaving the CSTO would be a political mistake on the part of the Armenian authorities. The CSTO may have made mistakes, but Russia is trying to correct them through its own efforts, within its capabilities, which the West will not do. It's not that the West couldn't support Armenia before or that it doesn't do it now, the French, for example, provide certain equipment. This is happening because of the West's interests," the pundit emphasized.