Inyarritu: escalation risk remains high amid Baku’s aggression

PanARMENIAN.Net - Spanish MP Jon Inarritu, commenting on the situation in the South Caucasus, stated that the risk of a new escalation remains high as long as Baku continues its aggressive actions. He emphasized that “Azerbaijan has been the only actor carrying out violent actions in the South Caucasus in recent years.”

Inarritu underlined the need for the international community to continue pressuring Baku to resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiations, not military aggression, Armenpress reports.

He noted, “Azerbaijan has repeatedly violated international law and destabilized the region, making the risk of new escalation persist. The international community must intensify its pressure on Baku to pursue dialogue instead of aggression.”

Inarritu stressed that lasting peace in the region can only be achieved through constructive engagement rather than conflict escalation.

Analyzing Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that Armenia does not engage in an arms race and acquires military equipment solely to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, the MP commented, “Azerbaijan’s accusations are, at the very least, absurd. As a sovereign state, Armenia has every right to procure military equipment for its defense, like any other country. However, it is crucial to highlight that Azerbaijan has used its advanced weaponry for ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh and incursions into Armenian territory, violating international law.”

The MP also noted that these weapons were supplied by several countries, including Turkey, Israel, Russia, Germany, Canada, and others. He added that Azerbaijan has increased its military budget for offensive operations.

“In contrast, Armenia remains focused solely on defending its borders and territorial integrity,” Inarritu emphasized.

According to him, the issue lies not in acquiring military equipment but in its misuse and in violations of international law, which Azerbaijan has repeatedly committed.

Earlier, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that Armenia should engage in dialogue with the so-called ‘Western Azerbaijan’ community, which in Azerbaijani rhetoric encompasses nearly all of Armenia’s territory, including Yerevan. He also claimed that Armenia and Azerbaijan have not resolved two issues for a future peace treaty: mutual withdrawal of claims in international courts and the presence of third-party forces near the border. Additionally, Aliyev insisted Armenia must amend its Constitution and agree to dissolve the OSCE Minsk Group before signing the treaty.