America watched idly as this happened.As Armenia’s traditional protector, Russia held the only leverage to convince Armenia to sign this ceasefire. It is now gatekeeper to a region central to Europe’s energy diversification (reducing the role of Russian imports). Once Russians occupy the area, the Russian state is obliged to step in.It is a classic of the Kremlin repertoire. It happened in two regions in Georgia, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, again before wars broke out, with Russia coming out as the chief beneficiary. American companies should invest in infrastructure and energy projects in the region so as to limit Russia’s room for maneuver.

Source: Ethiopian News December 23, 2020 18:11 UTC