Aliyev threatened last week to put an end to “fascism” in Armenia and to forcibly open a land corridor through Armenia’s strategic Syunik region to Azerbaijan’s Nakhichevan exclave. Critics of the Armenian government have portrayed his statement as a further indication that Baku is gearing up for a large-scale invasion of Armenia.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has likewise suggested that Aliyev may be preparing the ground for “unhindered aggression” against his country. Nevertheless, he has pledged to stick to his “peace agenda.”
“Rhetoric aside, any aggression needs grounds,” Papikian told a news conference “As defense minister, I do not see that there are grounds for escalating [tensions in] the region because Armenia has proposals and solutions for every problem.”
“Armenia acts with a narrative of establishing peace in the region and those narratives and proposals are quite substantiated,” he said.
Papikian declined to say whether Azerbaijan had “grounds” to attack Armenian border areas in 2021 and 2022.
Armenian opposition leaders and commentators warned of a growing risk of fresh Azerbaijani aggression even before Aliyev’s latest threats. They pointed, in particular, to increased contacts between Azerbaijani and Turkish military officials reported in November and December.
Critics also claim that Yerevan’s pro-Western foreign policy and heightened tensions with Russia are only aggravating security threats facing Armenia. They argue that the United States and the European Union are not offering the South Caucasus country security guarantees or even significant military aid.
Papikian acknowledged that a U.S.-Armenian agreement on “strategic partnership” signed on Tuesday does not call for U.S. arms supplies to Armenia. He said the United States will continue instead to train Armenian military personnel, help Armenia reform its armed forces and hold joint military exercises.
Asked about the agreement’s impact on Armenia’s security, Papikian said: “We must guarantee the security of Armenia’s borders with a balanced policy. Pinning hopes only on the armed forces or a single [foreign] partner is not a solution.”