Yeah, that’s the Azerbaijani’s excuse, too.
But to be fair, “occupying” a tiny piece of land for defensive purposes, after being occupied by 30% for 30 years barely counts as “attacking”. It’s overdefending.
Aliyev was nominated in 2018 by the New Azerbaijan Party as presidential candidate, he called for “the return of Azerbaijanis to these lands” and establishing this as “our political and strategic goal, and we must gradually approach it.” [5][6][7] In December 2022, Azerbaijan initiated its “Great Return” campaign which ostensibly promotes the settlement of ethnic Azerbaijanis who once lived in Armenia and Nagorno-Karbakh.[8][9] At his inauguration speech in December 2022, President Aliyev said “Present-day Armenia is our land. When I repeatedly said this before, they tried to object and allege that I have territorial claims. I am saying this as a historical fact. If someone can substantiate a different theory, let them come forward.”[10][11]
Since the end of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, Azerbaijan has increasingly promoted expansionist claims to Armenian territory and in particular Syunik.
Yeah, that’s the Azerbaijani’s excuse, too. But to be fair, “occupying” a tiny piece of land for defensive purposes, after being occupied by 30% for 30 years barely counts as “attacking”. It’s overdefending.
Aliyev was nominated in 2018 by the New Azerbaijan Party as presidential candidate, he called for “the return of Azerbaijanis to these lands” and establishing this as “our political and strategic goal, and we must gradually approach it.” [5][6][7] In December 2022, Azerbaijan initiated its “Great Return” campaign which ostensibly promotes the settlement of ethnic Azerbaijanis who once lived in Armenia and Nagorno-Karbakh.[8][9] At his inauguration speech in December 2022, President Aliyev said “Present-day Armenia is our land. When I repeatedly said this before, they tried to object and allege that I have territorial claims. I am saying this as a historical fact. If someone can substantiate a different theory, let them come forward.”[10][11]
Since the end of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, Azerbaijan has increasingly promoted expansionist claims to Armenian territory and in particular Syunik.
Totally, just for defense… Trust me bro.