Does Turkey Derive Benefit From Karabakh Conflict? – Analysis

We are not surprised that the stabilization of relations between Ankara and Yerevan appears on the international agenda from time-to-time.

The opening of the Turkish-Armenian border was recently discussed. On August 25, former Minister for EU Affairs for Turkey, Mr. Egemen Bagis, told Trend News agency that it would be out of the question. He was commenting on possible talks between Ankara and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) on Turkey’s accession to the Eurasian Customs Union.

So it seems that Turkey is playing a political game while raising various issues and at the same time denying the possibility of their solution.

Of course, this not the first time, when some Turkish authorities accomplish their tactical tasks making a “play” with Armenia, but at the very last moment they eager to show their strategic loyalty to Azerbaijan.

The international experts state that the Turkish politicians declare their intentions to contribute to the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict. But it occurs that it doesn’t matter for them whether the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh will be a part of Azerbaijan or Armenia or if it will gain sovereign independence.

For the last 25 years Ankara has learned how to reap the political and economic rewards from the conflict.

Ankara can’t afford itself to publicly neglect the interests of Baku.

At the same time Turkey understands that in case of the escalation of the Karabakh conflict the stability of transit of energy resources from Azerbaijan through Turkey to Europe will be under threat. That is why Ankara continues providing its diplomatic support for Azerbaijan, but it does not take significant measures to settle the conflict. So Turkey considers this way to the possibility of keeping Azerbaijan in the sphere of its influence.

There is an opinion that Turkey is eager to become the largest hub in transportation of energy resources to Europe and influence the international political processes. That is why Ankara as no one else is interested in maintaining the status quo in the South Caucasus. It also wants to control levers of pressure on all countries using in its interests the potential of regional conflicts. As such, Turkey has put great effort in the pipeline projects.