In a fiery war of words, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has branded Armenia a “fascist state,” sparking fears of renewed conflict in the volatile South Caucasus. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan responded swiftly, accusing Baku of manufacturing provocations to justify potential aggression.
Aliyev’s remarks, made during a local media interview on Tuesday, targeted Armenia’s military reforms and growing ties with France. He declared, “Independent Armenia is a fascist state at its core. Fascism must be destroyed by the Armenian leadership—or we will do it ourselves.” The incendiary rhetoric comes as the region grapples with the fallout from Azerbaijan’s 2023 military conquest of Nagorno-Karabakh, which displaced over 100,000 ethnic Armenians in what many have called ethnic cleansing.
Armenia Hits Back: “They Seek Escalation”
In a measured yet firm rebuttal, Pashinyan urged Azerbaijan to abandon its aggressive posture. “Baku is trying to legitimize escalation through aggressive statements, hoping for an equally aggressive response from Yerevan,” Pashinyan told state media outlet Armenpress.
He accused Azerbaijan of spreading disinformation, including claims that Armenian forces violated the ceasefire on January 5. Armenia’s Defense Ministry dismissed these allegations as baseless. Pashinyan warned that such tactics aim to construct a narrative justifying further military action.
A History of Bloodshed and Distrust
The decades-long conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, rooted in territorial disputes over Nagorno-Karabakh, has intensified since the Soviet Union’s collapse. The region saw devastating wars in 2020 and 2023, with the latter resulting in Azerbaijan’s capture of Nagorno-Karabakh and the mass exodus of its ethnic Armenian population. Western organizations have since accused Azerbaijan of ethnic cleansing, further fueling international condemnation.
Aliyev’s government, however, has doubled down on its hardline stance. Accusations of ethnic hatred against Armenians have been leveled at Baku, with critics pointing to Aliyev’s latest comments as evidence of an orchestrated campaign to provoke tensions.
The Role of Global Powers: Peace or Politics?
Amid escalating rhetoric, the U.S. and EU continue to push for a peace treaty between the two nations. Pashinyan reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment to dialogue, emphasizing efforts to focus on border demarcation, humanitarian issues, and resolving the fate of the missing from past conflicts.
“We will not use the language of aggression but the language of dialogue,” Pashinyan insisted. However, analysts argue that Aliyev’s latest comments could undermine such diplomatic efforts, especially as Azerbaijan consolidates power in Nagorno-Karabakh.
A Dangerous Brink
While Aliyev insists Azerbaijan desires peace, his fiery remarks and accusations suggest otherwise. Observers warn that his rhetoric may signal a calculated effort to stoke nationalist fervor and lay the groundwork for future military actions. For Armenia, the challenge lies in navigating this minefield without falling into the trap of escalation.
As tensions simmer, the world watches closely. Will diplomacy prevail, or will the South Caucasus once again be plunged into chaos?