Since 1988 relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been strained over control of an Armenian majority enclave within Azerbaijan. The Armenians and Karabakh Armenians declared independence in 1991 and during ensuing fighting 600,000 Azeris were driven from Karabakh. Emboldened by Turkey, the Azeris launched an offensive on Karabakh on September 27th. While the US waged war in 1991 to liberate oil-rich Kuwait from Iraq, other aggressors, including Turkey, have not been addressed. Erdogan has used involvement in foreign dramas to divert domestic attention from rampant corruption, economic woes and a rising Covid-19 infection rate.

Source: The Irish Times October 14, 2020 23:22 UTC